Hainz v. Shopko Stores, Inc.

This case interprets sec. 943.50(8), Stats., the statute immunizing merchants from such claims as false imprisonment for shoplifting detentions. Merchants are protected from liability, as long as they have probable cause to detain and as long as they detain only for a reasonable manner and a reasonable time. The issue here is whether “reasonable manner” means that a merchant has a duty to fully investigate each charge including the alleged shoplifter’s side of the story. We hold that the statute does not place that duty upon the merchant, and, therefore, the merchant in this case, Shopko…