Kelley v. Stop & Shop Companies, Inc.

Patricia S. Kelley (plaintiff) and her husband 1 brought a complaint in the Superior Court against The Stop & Shop Companies, Inc. (Stop & Shop), seeking damages for, among other things, abuse of process, claiming that the defendant had improperly filed an application for a criminal complaint against the plaintiff for larceny of merchandise. Later, the plaintiff filed an amended complaint that added a count alleging a violation by the defendant of her civil rights. See G. L. c. 12, § 111. A jury returned verdicts in favor of the plaintiff on both her abuse of process ($36,000) and civil…