Steffensen v. Smith's Management Corp.

HOWE, Associate Chief Justice:

We granted cross-petitions for certiorari to review the court of appeals’ affirmance of a trial court judgment based on a jury verdict in favor of defendant Smith’s Management Corporation. Steffensen v. Smith’s Management Corp., 820 P.2d 482 (Utah Ct.App.1991).

I. FACTS

Bradley Burnett entered a Smith’s grocery store intending to shoplift. Gary Can-ham, the store’s front-end manager, was standing in the middle of the store and observed Burnett coming from the produce department carrying beer and cigarettes. As Burnett walked toward the front of the store past…