After being falsely accused of shoplifting and racially profiled for shopping while Black, our client recovered $4,166 per minute. Security guards are not allowed to racially profile store patrons, and must have a legitimate reason for stopping and detaining customers. Customers who are detained, restrained, accused and prevented from leaving have legal rights and can fight back.

By: Daniel W. Whitney, Jr., Esq.
Whitney, LLP
409 Washington Ave, Ste 750
Towson, Maryland 21204
410 583 8000 - Phone
[email protected]
Free Consultations
https://whitneyfirm.com/contact/​​​​​​

Here is our blog on our $100,000 settlement against a car dealership in a Maryland false imprisonment case: https://bit.ly/2P1Gk2o

Whitney, LLP represents victims of false shoplifting accusations, racial profiling and false imprisonment.

Victims of False Accusations often deal with issues including:
accused at the mall of stealing
accused of stealing despite paying for goods
showed receipt but still accused
aggressively confronted by security guards
accused by security guards without justification
no reasonable suspicion or probable cause for being stopped
detained against their will without cause
racial profiling
racial profiling and followed despite not stealing
threatened with arrest for refusal to allow a search of bags or pockets
false 911 calls by security guards
forced to go to a back office and kept there
questioned for extended time by security guards
released without an arrest after being detained
told they had no legal rights
told that security guards are allowed to stop them for no reason

While Being Accused, You May Want To:
if you are wrongfully accused of shoplifting, you should begin to record the situation with your phone, or on Facebook Live or Instagram Live;
call 911 to create a record of the situation and request assistance
stay as calm as possible to avoid physical escalation

What to Do After Being Detained for False Shoplifting Accusations
act quickly to preserve video surveillance footage
email or write to the mall or business owner to preserve the video footage
video surveillance footage is critical to proving a case
contact an attorney to represent you in legal claims of false shoplifting

Potential Legal Claims for Wrongfully Being Accused of Shoplifting
false imprisonment
wrongful detention
battery if touched by a security guard
invasion of privacy
negligence

Compensation for False Shoplifting Accusation
actual damages for economic loss
emotional distress including anxiety, stress, humiliation, embarrassment