ART VECTOR
Brian Maxwell, Customer Relations Manager, for Art Vector, was in a quandary. He pondered over a
memo from Jay Kelly, Loss Prevention Manager at Art Vector, (Exhibit 1) and a letter addressed to him
from Candice Cook, a customer, (Exhibit 2). What appeared to have been a routine shoplifting incident
on the part of Mrs. Cook turned out to lack evidence. To make matters worse, the suspect was injured
during apprehension. It appeared that Art Vector faced the possibility of a lawsuit because of the
incident. Ronald Wood, Chief Administrator, had asked Mr. Maxwell to assess the legal and financial
consequences of the case, make recommendations, and report back to him.
Art Vector is a large stationery and drawing supplies retailer with approximately 50 stores located
throughout the State of Green. The firm has been established for many years, making steady, if
unspectacular profits.
EXHIBIT 1
MEMORANDUM
DATE:
January 3, 2019
TO:
File
FROM:
Jay Kelly, Loss Prevention Manager
SUBJECT:
Shoplifting Incident
At 2:20 p.m. today, I observed a customer, Candice Cook, who was standing next to calligraphy sets in the store,
make a sudden move to her pocket. She then proceeded at an accelerated pace toward the exit. I noticed that her
side pocket was stuffed. I then proceeded directly to where the customer had been standing and noticed that a
calligraphy pen set was missing. It so happened that I noticed earlier that day that the calligraphy pen sets were fully
stocked up. I assumed that the customer, who I had previously observed, had shoplifted the set. As the customer
was about to leave the store by then, I began chasing after her and reached her at the store’s entrance. Fearing that I
might lose her in the crowd, I shouted at her to stop. I then grasped her by the arm and shoved her back to the store.
Apparently, the customer lost her balance and fell on her back hitting one of the checkout counters. She seemed to
be hurt a little, but then I offered to help her stand up, although she continued to limp. I then asked her if she had
forgotten to pay for something. She seemed surprised and said that she does not understand what I am talking about.
I then directed her to follow me to the Loss Prevention room. Alice Fernandez, one of the checkout employees,
helped her walk toward the Loss Prevention room as the customer complained she was having difficulties walking
and was experiencing terrible back pain. I closely walked behind the two of them.
Per store’s protocol, I then advised the customer that she would have to wait until the store’s manager would come
back from a meeting for the investigation to begin. The store’s manager, Jackie Tran, was due to return from a
meeting at 2:30 p.m. that day. Unfortunately, she only returned at 3:30 p.m. At that time, Mrs. Tran advised the
customer why she was being held up and asked her to empty her pockets. However, no calligraphy set was found.
Mrs. Tran then apologized for the inconvenience, gave her a $25 gift certificate, and wished the customer well.
I really did not mean to hurt the customer, but apparently, her fall did some damage to her as she kept complaining
that her back hurts.
EXHIBIT 2
Candice Cook
77 Green Avenue
Green City, Green
EXHIBIT 3
February 18, 2019
Number
Year
Ronald Wood, Chief Administrator
Art Vector
99 Mint Blvd.
Rose City, Green
1
2
3
Re: incident dated January 30, 2019
4
Dear Mr. Wood:
5
Based on permanent injuries inflicted on me by one of your employees while falsely imprisoning me on January 3rd,
2019, I demand compensation in the sum of $765,000 in medical care expense and $500,000 for loss of future
income.
Price
Index*
188.9
195.3
201.6
207.3
215.3
214.5
218.1
224.9
229.6
233.0
236.7
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
6
7
Gross
Income
60,056
61,257
62,482
63,732
65,007
66,307
67,633
68,986
70,366
71,773
73,208
74,672
76,165
77,688
79,242
8
9
10
11
12
13
2016
On January 3rd, 2019, I came to your store to locate some art supplies for my daughter’s art project at school. While
was examining a number of calligraphy sets that you had on the shelves, I was not able to find the calligraphy set my
daughter’s teacher requested. Rushed to make it back to an appointment I had with a client that afternoon, I headed
toward the store’s exit. As I was about to leave the store’s premises, I heard someone shout behind me ordering me
to stop immediately while using some foul language. When I looked back, I saw a six-foot, two hundred pound man
grabbing my arm and shoving me back to the store. Due to the tremendous force of that shoving, I lost balance and
fell on my back, right against one of the store’s checkout counters. I immediately felt extreme pain in my back and
was unable to move. I was then helped out by a store’s employee and was ordered to go to the Loss Prevention
room. I was told that police would be called to the premises if I did not directly go to the Loss Prevention room. There
were approximately twenty-five customers watching me as I was escorted to the Loss Prevention room. I felt
extremely embarrassed by the ordeal. Once we got to the Loss Prevention room, I asked the man, who accosted me
at the store’s entrance and who then followed me to the room, the reason for my detention. He then mentioned that it
is against the store’s policy for him to discuss the matter further and that I would have to wait for the store’s manager.
Almost an hour later, the store manager, Mrs. Tran, arrived. At that point, she notified me that I have been detained
because one of the store’s employees had observed me stealing a calligraphy pen set. I immediately denied any
involvement in the matter and offered to empty my pockets. Mrs. Tran was then satisfied that I have done nothing
wrong. She politely apologized and allowed me to leave the store’s premises.
237.0
240.0
245.1
251.1
14
2017
2018
15
*Source; https://data.bls.gov/pdq/SurveyOutputServlet
U.S. Department of Labor, Urban Consumers, 1982 – 1984 = 100
Later that afternoon, I was admitted to Ceder Sinai Hospital emergency room as I was experiencing severe back pain
arising out of my fall earlier that day. That same night, a team of surgeons operated on my back as the condition
severely deteriorated. However, they were unable to successfully treat the back injuries in this and in two other
surgeries that followed. I am now diagnosed with an abnormal degeneration of my spine resulting in irreparable back
injury and permanent disability. This condition prevents me from ever walking again or from ever sitting down for
more than ten minutes at a time. As a result of this permanent condition, I had to quit my job as a regional
salesperson for Weise, a pharmaceutical company. My doctor’s diagnosis indicates that these injuries to my back
would prevent me from ever working again.
Besides my past and future medical bills, I am also demanding that you compensate me for the loss of future income.
As a fifty-five years old, highly successful career woman in the field of pharmaceutical sales, I am now deprived of
any prospects of employment for the rest of my life. I am attaching a copy of my gross yearly income from my sales
position during the last fifteen years. (See Exhibit 3).
Please respond to my settlement offer on or before April 15. I hope this matter could be resolved amicably.
Sincerely,
Candice Cook
Enclosures
Purchase answer to see full
attachment
Brian Maxwell, Customer Relations Manager, for Art Vector, was in a quandary. He pondered over a
memo from Jay Kelly, Loss Prevention Manager at Art Vector, (Exhibit 1) and a letter addressed to him
from Candice Cook, a customer, (Exhibit 2). What appeared to have been a routine shoplifting incident
on the part of Mrs. Cook turned out to lack evidence. To make matters worse, the suspect was injured
during apprehension. It appeared that Art Vector faced the possibility of a lawsuit because of the
incident. Ronald Wood, Chief Administrator, had asked Mr. Maxwell to assess the legal and financial
consequences of the case, make recommendations, and report back to him.
Art Vector is a large stationery and drawing supplies retailer with approximately 50 stores located
throughout the State of Green. The firm has been established for many years, making steady, if
unspectacular profits.
EXHIBIT 1
MEMORANDUM
DATE:
January 3, 2019
TO:
File
FROM:
Jay Kelly, Loss Prevention Manager
SUBJECT:
Shoplifting Incident
At 2:20 p.m. today, I observed a customer, Candice Cook, who was standing next to calligraphy sets in the store,
make a sudden move to her pocket. She then proceeded at an accelerated pace toward the exit. I noticed that her
side pocket was stuffed. I then proceeded directly to where the customer had been standing and noticed that a
calligraphy pen set was missing. It so happened that I noticed earlier that day that the calligraphy pen sets were fully
stocked up. I assumed that the customer, who I had previously observed, had shoplifted the set. As the customer
was about to leave the store by then, I began chasing after her and reached her at the store’s entrance. Fearing that I
might lose her in the crowd, I shouted at her to stop. I then grasped her by the arm and shoved her back to the store.
Apparently, the customer lost her balance and fell on her back hitting one of the checkout counters. She seemed to
be hurt a little, but then I offered to help her stand up, although she continued to limp. I then asked her if she had
forgotten to pay for something. She seemed surprised and said that she does not understand what I am talking about.
I then directed her to follow me to the Loss Prevention room. Alice Fernandez, one of the checkout employees,
helped her walk toward the Loss Prevention room as the customer complained she was having difficulties walking
and was experiencing terrible back pain. I closely walked behind the two of them.
Per store’s protocol, I then advised the customer that she would have to wait until the store’s manager would come
back from a meeting for the investigation to begin. The store’s manager, Jackie Tran, was due to return from a
meeting at 2:30 p.m. that day. Unfortunately, she only returned at 3:30 p.m. At that time, Mrs. Tran advised the
customer why she was being held up and asked her to empty her pockets. However, no calligraphy set was found.
Mrs. Tran then apologized for the inconvenience, gave her a $25 gift certificate, and wished the customer well.
I really did not mean to hurt the customer, but apparently, her fall did some damage to her as she kept complaining
that her back hurts.
EXHIBIT 2
Candice Cook
77 Green Avenue
Green City, Green
EXHIBIT 3
February 18, 2019
Number
Year
Ronald Wood, Chief Administrator
Art Vector
99 Mint Blvd.
Rose City, Green
1
2
3
Re: incident dated January 30, 2019
4
Dear Mr. Wood:
5
Based on permanent injuries inflicted on me by one of your employees while falsely imprisoning me on January 3rd,
2019, I demand compensation in the sum of $765,000 in medical care expense and $500,000 for loss of future
income.
Price
Index*
188.9
195.3
201.6
207.3
215.3
214.5
218.1
224.9
229.6
233.0
236.7
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
6
7
Gross
Income
60,056
61,257
62,482
63,732
65,007
66,307
67,633
68,986
70,366
71,773
73,208
74,672
76,165
77,688
79,242
8
9
10
11
12
13
2016
On January 3rd, 2019, I came to your store to locate some art supplies for my daughter’s art project at school. While
was examining a number of calligraphy sets that you had on the shelves, I was not able to find the calligraphy set my
daughter’s teacher requested. Rushed to make it back to an appointment I had with a client that afternoon, I headed
toward the store’s exit. As I was about to leave the store’s premises, I heard someone shout behind me ordering me
to stop immediately while using some foul language. When I looked back, I saw a six-foot, two hundred pound man
grabbing my arm and shoving me back to the store. Due to the tremendous force of that shoving, I lost balance and
fell on my back, right against one of the store’s checkout counters. I immediately felt extreme pain in my back and
was unable to move. I was then helped out by a store’s employee and was ordered to go to the Loss Prevention
room. I was told that police would be called to the premises if I did not directly go to the Loss Prevention room. There
were approximately twenty-five customers watching me as I was escorted to the Loss Prevention room. I felt
extremely embarrassed by the ordeal. Once we got to the Loss Prevention room, I asked the man, who accosted me
at the store’s entrance and who then followed me to the room, the reason for my detention. He then mentioned that it
is against the store’s policy for him to discuss the matter further and that I would have to wait for the store’s manager.
Almost an hour later, the store manager, Mrs. Tran, arrived. At that point, she notified me that I have been detained
because one of the store’s employees had observed me stealing a calligraphy pen set. I immediately denied any
involvement in the matter and offered to empty my pockets. Mrs. Tran was then satisfied that I have done nothing
wrong. She politely apologized and allowed me to leave the store’s premises.
237.0
240.0
245.1
251.1
14
2017
2018
15
*Source; https://data.bls.gov/pdq/SurveyOutputServlet
U.S. Department of Labor, Urban Consumers, 1982 – 1984 = 100
Later that afternoon, I was admitted to Ceder Sinai Hospital emergency room as I was experiencing severe back pain
arising out of my fall earlier that day. That same night, a team of surgeons operated on my back as the condition
severely deteriorated. However, they were unable to successfully treat the back injuries in this and in two other
surgeries that followed. I am now diagnosed with an abnormal degeneration of my spine resulting in irreparable back
injury and permanent disability. This condition prevents me from ever walking again or from ever sitting down for
more than ten minutes at a time. As a result of this permanent condition, I had to quit my job as a regional
salesperson for Weise, a pharmaceutical company. My doctor’s diagnosis indicates that these injuries to my back
would prevent me from ever working again.
Besides my past and future medical bills, I am also demanding that you compensate me for the loss of future income.
As a fifty-five years old, highly successful career woman in the field of pharmaceutical sales, I am now deprived of
any prospects of employment for the rest of my life. I am attaching a copy of my gross yearly income from my sales
position during the last fifteen years. (See Exhibit 3).
Please respond to my settlement offer on or before April 15. I hope this matter could be resolved amicably.
Sincerely,
Candice Cook
Enclosures
Purchase answer to see full
attachment
