Legal Question in Civil Rights Law in Wisconsin

owner of business falsely accusing an adult of stealing

My 18 year old son was shopping in a private golf store and the owner of the store angrily asked my son for his car keys so that he can search my son' car for a stolen golf club. My son gave the owner his keys knowing that he did not steal anything.

The owner checked his car and came back inside the store and apologized for

falsely accusing him and gave him a free gift. My question is, did the owner perform an illegal act by taking my son's keys and going outside his business to look for stolen property?


Asked on 9/22/07, 4:24 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Jonathan Safran Samster, Konkel & Safran, S.C.

Re: owner of business falsely accusing an adult of stealing

Although the business owner would not have had a right to search your son's car, your son gave him permission by giving him the keys, therefore, there was nothing illegal done by the store owner. If your son had denied the search, the store owner could have certainly called the police, but he would not have had a right to search the car on his own.

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Answered on 9/23/07, 8:43 pm


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