Maitland Civil Demand Letter Attorney

The pandemic, inflation, a wavering economy, and corporate greed have made things harder on consumers, while wages have continued to remain stagnant. As a result, shoplifting has been put in the national spotlight. Retail stores, grocery stores, and other companies are utilizing civil demand letters to recoup their losses. If you are a business owner, a civil demand letter is just one method to recover the expense of a stolen item. We can draft such a letter for you. The Maitland civil demand letter attorneys at The Hornsby Law Group also represent individuals who have received civil demand letters, and can advise you on what steps to take next.

What is a Civil Demand Letter?

A civil demand letter is simply a letter demanding money for stolen goods. Usually the amount being demanded by the business is far in excess of the amount that was allegedly stolen, often including the expense of the item even if was returned or never made it out of the store, the cost of hiring security guards, the cost of installing security cameras and other anti-theft measures, and the cost of training employees about how to spot shoplifting. A civil demand letter may also include attorney fees and other expenses. However, it should be noted that a civil demand letter does not legally obligate the alleged shoplifter to pay it.

What Should I Do if I Received a Civil Demand Letter

You can choose to not pay a civil demand letter, and hope that the business simply drops it and forgets about you. This does carry the risk of the business owner deciding to file a civil lawsuit against you. Moreover, it may force the hand of—or at least tip the scale in favor of—the business owner to also file criminal charges against you. A civil lawsuit will incur much higher expenses than what the civil demand letter is asking you to pay. And, of course, a criminal charge has even more implications. On the other hand, if you do decide to pay the civil demand letter’s amount in full, the business can A) still file a civil lawsuit against you, and B) still press criminal charges against you.  If you have received a civil demand letter, your best option is to consult with an attorney as soon as possible.

My Business Is the Victim of Shoplifting. How Can I Recoup My Expenses?

A civil demand letter is a good first step in attempting to recover your expenses related to the shoplifting incident. As noted above, it does not force the shoplifter to pay, but it does show that you are serious about being compensated. If the shoplifter refuses to pay up, your next step can be to file a lawsuit and press criminal charges.

Call a Maitland Civil Demand Letter Attorney Today

Retail theft has been on the rise ever since the beginning of the pandemic, and is showing little signs of letting up. If you are the victim of shoplifting or you have been unfairly accused of shoplifting, we can help. Call the Maitland civil demand letter attorneys at The Hornsby Law Group to schedule a free consultation today.