Gibson Discount Center, Inc. v. Cruz

OPINION

OSBORN, Justice.

The Appellee, Guadalupe Cruz, was charged with misdemeanor theft for “shoplifting” in Appellant’s store in Odessa, Texas. A jury acquitted him of the charge. In this suit alleging false imprisonment and malicious prosecution, the jury awarded Mr. Cruz $5,000.00 in actual damages and $5,000.00 in exemplary damages. We affirm.

The Appellee is employed by Andrews County as a supervisor in the maintenance of its golf course. He has worked for the County for about five years and has six employees working under his direction. On November 2, 1974, he drove his mother and sister…