Woman files $7 million lawsuit against Walmart after being arrested for shoplifting

Published On: Monday, January 7, 2013 6:20 AM
By: Shifra Unger

Walmart

Claiming she was wrongly accused of shoplifting and humiliated as security guards dragged her by the wrists at a Walmart in Cortlandt, a Carmel woman is suing the company for $7 million.

Alexandra Albano Richardson alleges in a federal lawsuit that she was leaving the store at 3131 E. Main St. 3:30 pm after completing a purchase, when a security guard grabbed her.

The lawsuit alleges that she was "forcibly dragged to a back room" where she was "falsely accused of theft and subjected to verbal abuse and profanity."

She was detained for an hour, the lawsuit alleges, led to a state police station and charged with petty theft. Although the charges were dismissed, Richardson said she had to pay $5,000 in defense spending.

It is based on the false imprisonment, assault and malicious prosecution, claiming the store violated her constitutional right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure.
Her lawyer, Juan Parrilla, had no comment.