Posted by Victoria on April 7, 2000, at 16:53:25
In reply to Re: Please read, everyone (plea for help)., posted by CarolAnn on April 7, 2000, at 15:59:03
I don't have a legal background, but I have in the past consulted an attorney on a one-shot basis to find out what my rights were in a particular situation. It was a great help and worth the money. If you can't offord that, there might be a legal aid clinic at a law school or a social service agency near you. I do have a couple of thoughts: I think it is a good idea to make just one demand, but I'd suggest demanding a written apology. Even if they gave you the forms and pictures, they could keep copies. Also, I'd be wary of attributing the incident to your meds or psychiatric problem. In the first place, these things happen to lots of people. I did something similar in a fabric store once, put some buttons in my pocket so my hands would be free to pick up bolts of fabric, bought my fabric, and only realized when I got home that I had forgotten about the buttons. And I was young, on no meds, and not depressed when it happened! Given that these people are such idiots, I'd be concerned that talking abou meds or depression would just push all kinds of stigma buttons, and they might treat you worse, rather than better. And, I think (non-legal opinion), that if you did decide to take them to court (or they decided to take you), your raising the issue of meds or depression as a reason for your forgetfulness might entitle them to ask for your medical records, call you doctor as a witness, etc. I hope I'm not scaring you with this; I just personally tend to be very protective of who gets to know about my mental health issues. The bottom line is, I think it would be very helpful for you to consult an attorney to be clear about your legal rights and to demand an apology for how you have been treated. Don't forget that you are a good customer and probably know many other people who shop there who you might tell about this incident, so you do have some leverage. Go get 'em!
> Thanks again everyone for all the support.
>
> I've been thinking(how could I not?). First, I wonder if anyone here at psycho-babble has legal background. I could use some legal ammunition for the demand(yes, only one) I want to make from the store. All I want is for them to give me all the forms and the pictures they took, does anyone think that is unreasonable?
> Also, a question, given the fact that I am being treated for a medical condition(major depression), which (technically) caused the incident, does anyone think that, legally, there was discrimination involved? Are there legal ramifications to the fact that they were intimidating and coercing me to sign something that was A. self-incriminating and B. was actually a lie, since I absentmindedly took the water, but the form said, "intentionally".
> Well, this is really just a shot in the dark, but if anyone does have any answers, thanks and God Bless you! CarolAnn
poster:Victoria
thread:29069
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000401/msgs/29219.html