Coughlin v. First National Stores, Inc.

Action of tort for assault and unlawful detention in the defendant’s place of business. The defendant’s answer is a general denial and an answer of justification.

The defendant is a corporation engaged in the grocery, fruit and vegetable business, operating a chain of stores, one of which is in Lynn, Massachusetts. The operation of the store is more particularly described in the facts found by the trial judge.

The trial judge made the following findings of fact:

“This is an action of tort wherein the plaintiff alleged that she was assaulted and unlawfully ‘detained’ while in the defendant’s…