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I was with a friend at Meijers. She attempted to scam them for steaks. Also her son ran off with two toys to video game section. They caught her took us both back to room. I paid with Credit card for my things. I never touched the stuff she attempted to steal. I did not know what she was up to. I was bagging. I only touched the stuff I put in the cart. And I paid in full. I never signed anything they wanted me to. I was never arrested. I never saw a police officer. Do I still have to pay the 200.00 they want me to? I was guilty by association and I had no idea she was stealing this stuff. Should I fight this?
Optional Information: Country relating to Question: United States State (if USA): Michigan Already Tried: Nothing. Was going to call around to local lawyers and then seen this as I looked.
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Those civil demand letters are very common. Law firms representing the company will send out hundreds, even thousands of such letters every month to people accused of theft making a civil demand for restitution to cover the cost of investigation, etc. I can't advise you what to do, but I can tell you that it is rare (as in, I've never seen it happen rare) that a law firm that sends such a demand letter actually goes after someone who doesn't pay it. The costs involved in suing you for the debt would outweigh what they are asking for. Thus, the majority of such letters sent out go unanswered by people.
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It was the paper work they gave me before I left. Stating I have to pay 200.00 within thirty days or they will prosecute me for 28.00 worth of stuff she took. She signed her statement they gave her. Before they would tell me what they were going to do to us they waited to see if I would sign a Statement they worded for me. I refused since I did not do anything wrong and paid in full 49.00 worth of stuff. I have not received anything in mail. I wasn't guilty of anything but giving a friend (not taking her to store ever again.) a ride. Never been in trouble in my life.
The store cannot prosecute you -- only the prosecutor's office can make that decision whether to charge you. At this point, I'd probably still ignore it -it still strikes me as a civil demand, and there's no guarantee that if they wanted to, they wouldn't report the matter to the prosecutor's office anyway.This is just a way to pressure you to give them money. Furthermore, even if they did turn it over to the prosecutor's office, I think it would a tough case for them to make, so I don't see them filing charges. A prosecutor would have to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that you intended to steal something. Not only did you not personally take anything, you had no knowledge that your friend had done anything. You clearly had no intent to do anything wrong nor did anything wrong.
Experience: Experienced in multiple areas of the law.