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Walmart Customer Accused of Shoplifting Wins $282,000

A Loudoun County jury has awarded compensatory damages of $282,000 to a Hispanic-American customer who was allegedly accosted and accused of shoplifting by Walmart security guards. Daniel Campos and a friend went to the Walmart in Sterling, Virginia in May 2009. Campos testified that a security guard began following them around as soon as they entered the store. The two men testified that they went through several departments and ultimately placed a sweatshirt in their cart. They decided to abandon the cart and exit the store without any purchases because they had become uncomfortable by the guard’s actions. At that point, according to Campos, two guards and an assistant manager confronted them, put their arms behind their backs and pushed them face-first against the store’s front window. Campos testified that the guards accused the men of being thieves and demanded a return of the merchandise. Police arrived and found nothing on the men. They were allowed to leave but not before signing a statement that they would not return to the store. Campos grew up in Sterling and his mother is a deputy sheriff.

Campos filed an action for defamation, false imprisonment, assault and battery, and deprivation of civil rights, all claims made frequently in premises liability cases. The presiding judge, Judge Burke F. McCahill struck the defamation count finding that the accusations were directed to Campos’ friend rather than Campos. The jury rejected Campos’ civil rights claims but found for him on the false imprisonment and assault and battery claims. The jury awarded $282,000 in compensatory damages.