TSU grad wins $9 million in Wal-Mart suit

Chron ^ | 03/28/10 | CINDY GEORGE

[OldDeckHand]

A Houston woman who was wrongly arrested in 2008 at the Walmart in Meyer Park has won a $9 million jury verdict.

Nitra Gipson, 24, filed a civil lawsuit against the retailer after store employees accused her of trying to exchange counterfeit Walmart money orders for cash. She was arrested and spent two days in jail. The Harris County District Attorney's Office declined to pursue charges after it was determined that the money orders were genuine.

That meant Gipson had been falsely accused and falsely arrested.

[OldDeckHand]

A staff attorney, probably making less than $50K year, sends a letter to a customer whom the store had already falsely accused of counterfeiting, and demands $200.

I don't know if Walmart keeps such records, but it's probably the most costly mistake by a $50K a year employee in the history of the company.

[WOBBLY BOB]

I’d gladly do 2 years in jail for $9 million. WHere do I sign up?

[Doc Savage]

Is it that easy to make 9 mil???? Geeesh!

[PackerBoy]

Happens every day in the topsy-turvy world of civil litigation. One minute one party apparently has the upper hand; the next minute the other party looks like it has the better case. This is high stakes poker, not for the weak-hearted.

In fact, we call this a "Pac Man" in my firm. Today's aggressor is tomorrow's target running for cover. Turnabout is fair play, I guess.

[trumandogz]

Not worth 9 million but without question Wal-Mart screwed-up here in a very big way and the Wal-Mart lawyer who sent that letter is a moron.

Reminds me of the IRS agents that were sent out into the field to collect four cents.

Thus the idiocy of Wal-Mart is approaching the idiocy of the federal government.

[DRey]

This will never stand up to appeal.

[jiggyboy]

“Walmart money orders”? Like an American Express or Western Union money order, but it says Bank of WalMart or something like that on it instead?

[Non-Sequitur]

Find a big company and get them to do something incredibly stupid to you and presto! You to can be a multi-millionaire.

[alancarp]

Yeah, I’m kinda thinking that the idea of medical tort reform is a pipe dream.

[SmithL]

A Harris County court jury on Friday determined that Wal-Mart Stores Texas should pay $8.2 million in actual damages

How in the world did they get to $8.2 million in ACTUAL damages?

[Non-Sequitur]

“Walmart money orders”? Like an American Express or Western Union money order, but it says Bank of WalMart or something like that on it instead?

Wal-mart has sold money order for years. They have their own pet bank for something called their Wal-mart Money Centers. They do check cashing, money orders, money transfers, bill payment, things like that.

[OldDeckHand]

This is the most interesting sentence...

"A Harris County court jury on Friday determined that Wal-Mart Stores Texas should pay $8.2 million in actual damages and $820,000 in punitive damages."

I can't imagine how they reached $8.2 million in compensatory damages.

Even with the formula (federal formula) that the US government uses to grant compensatory damages to people who have been falsely imprisoned, you wouldn't even come close to $8.2 million for a year (maybe 10 years), let alone two days.

[stylin19a]

John Ramirez, a Houston lawyer who represents the retailer, directed questions to Walmart media relations.

whacky...and when media relations are asked questions, they'll say "no comment" on legal matters.

[aquila48]

It was 2 days not two years!

[marktwain]

This is ridiculous. 8.2 million in direct damages for 2 days in jail? All of us who shop at WalMart end up paying this.

I could see maybe $20K, but 8.2 million and $820 thousand in punitive damages... it makes no sense. Please, somebody explain it in any reasonable manner.

[Steamburg]

Nice numbers for headlines but, we all know that those numbers go away on appeal. Her attorney will get a tidy sum and she will get pretty good compensation because Wal-Mart aggravated situation and the was too stupid to settle. Just remember at last count about 18 cents of every dollar you spend at Wal-Mart goes to cover loss and liability. Wait for VAT.

[Jack Hydrazine]

Jackpot Justice!

[WOBBLY BOB]

In know...and I would do two YEARS for 9 MILLION.

[OldDeckHand]

'This is ridiculous. 8.2 million in direct damages for 2 days in jail? "

I'm not defending the award, in fact I question it just above your own comment. But, I imagine much of those "damages" come from the defamation portion of the suit. Even still, $8.2 million seems WILDLY outrageous and excessive. By comparison, Richard Jewel who was defamed in the 1996 Olympic bombings, hasn't collected much more than $8 million, if even that.

Tort law isn't my area, so I couldn't give you a better explanation than that, sorry.

[Mad Dawgg]

"I could see maybe $20K, but 8.2 million and $820 thousand in punitive damages... it makes no sense. Please, somebody explain it in any reasonable manner."

If I got tossed in jail on a bogus charge I know I would be looking for blood! How do you ever get out from under the stigma of going to jail reputation wise?

Me though I want everyone in the equation to pay up. The arresting officer, the idiot who accused me, and so on. Maybe 8.2 million is a bit much but all involved should feel the sting harshly for disrupting the life of an innocent citizen!