Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Illinois

shop lifting

My daughter was caught shop lifting some make up of a value of $11 from Sears. They released her into my custody without prssing charges. They said someone recognized her and was familar to them and she told them she was in the store a couple of weeks prior when i ordered all my appliances there. I thought that is why no charges were filed and the security guy told me that he believed it was her first time and that she was remorseful. they had me sign some papers which i do not believe I got copies of. Now a law firm in orlando is asking me for $350 for civil damages. Is this allowed? What do I do? THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND HELP


Asked on 11/27/06, 7:45 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Nima Taradji Taradji Law Offices

Re: shop lifting

I have dealt with this situation before. There are some sleaze-bag law firms who specialize in extorting money from people who have been caught shoplifting. They hope you would pay them $350 so they go away--They do that to thousands of people so even if a small percentage decide to pay, they come ahead. After all a letter and a postage stamp doesn't cost much.

You have two choices:

1- pay them

2- get yourself an attorney to send them a letter - If they are the same ones I dealt with in the past, they are also practicing law without a license here in Illinois. Someone should bring a class action lawsuit against these sleaze-bags.

Either way you will be out of some money... Unless you have papers from Sears that shows you have already settled your case with them. In which case, send them a copy of the settlement and tell them to go put their body into unnatural positions.

I hope this helps,

Taradji Law Offices

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Answered on 11/27/06, 11:50 pm


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