Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Virginia

I was accused of stealing by a Giant employee. I work across the parking lot from Giant. I went to Giant to get lunch, I tried to checkout at the self checkout line but it was not accepting my credit card. So I went to an actual cashier and purchased my items. After I got back to where I work I sat down to eat. Then the receptionist came to me and told me someone from Giant just called saying I better go back and pay for my food or they are going to call the cops. I started going back to Giant with my receipt, as I was walking there was a Giant employee outside of Giant. She yelled over to me "is it worth going to jail for". I told her I paid and showed her my receipt. She then took me inside and showed my receipt to another Giant employee and then said I can go.
Is this slander and Can I sue? The main problem I have with this is that the person that called did not ask for me. Instead the person just told my co-worker that I stole and better come back or they will call the police and before anything she just yells over at me "is it worth going to jail for". It was very embarrassing and very disrespectful. She didn't even apologize.

Asked on 9/21/10, 1:23 pm

Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

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If you believe that you have been slandered in your business reputation by

this Giant employee, under Virginia defamation rules you would not be

required to prove reasonable damages resulting therefrom. Your cause

of action would lie not only against this employee but also Giant Food,

Inc. (assuming the employee was acting within the scope of her employment).

Answered on 9/27/10, 6:38 am

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