Dayton Hudson Corp. v. Altus

OPINION

JACK SMITH, Justice.

This is a damage suit for false imprisonment and malicious prosecution. Based on jury findings, the court entered judgment awarding the appellee $150,000 in actual damages, $225,000 in punitive damages, and $2,739 in attorney s fees for the defense of the criminal action.

The appellee was shopping at a Target retail store in Harris County when two of the appellant’s security guards observed her looking at and handling various merchandise in different parts of the store. After the appellee had paid for some items and was starting to leave, she was detained by one of…