Legal Question in Criminal Law in Minnesota

Re: Theft by Shoplifting - Punitive Damages from company

You can read this Minnesota Statute at the State's web site, link:

http://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/stats/604/14.html

(You may need to copy and paste that into your web browser's address window.)

The Statute Section, 604.14 "Civil liability for theft" appears to provide for civil liability for the value of the property stolen, "plus punitive damages of either $50 or up to 100 percent of its value when stolen, whichever is greater." Subdivision 2 of the statute section provides for a possible defense -- the store must have posted a notice in a conspicuous place of liability under this statute.

As a practical matter, your son might prefer to pay the demand (by check, or get a receipt) rather than risk the possibility of the store filing a civil lawsuit in conciliation court, which eventually could result in a civil judgment on his public record (and credit report) which might possibly include theft as the basis for the debt. If he pays and settles the matter, he may then remove that risk of a public record of a civil judgment for theft. (Though this would not affect any other public records, such as a criminal conviction record.)