Robber Can Sue Store that He Robbed
It seems that tort law is on your side even when you are on the wrong side of the law. A robber wants to sue the store he robbed from.
AP reports that a "Michigan judge says a man who claims he was chased, shot and beaten by workers at a store he'd just robbed can sue the men. But only if he comes up with $10,000 within two weeks."
The robber, Scott T. Zielinski, is serving out an eight year sentence after being convicted of unarmed robbery for the November 2007 heist at Nick's Party Stop in Clinton Township which is located in Michigan.
He claims that he was chased, shot twice and beaten to a bloody pulp by three employees after he robbed the store.
He held the employees of the store at knifepoint and threatened to kill them so that he could rob the store of cigarettes, alcohol and $873 in cash.
According to CBS News: "The 23-year-old filed a lawsuit seeking $125,000 in April against the store, its owner John Acho and three employees including Acho's brother-in-law Don A. Kallo, and two nephews, Justin Kallo and Johnathan Kallo.
Justin Kallo allegedly chased and shot Zielinski.
Circuit Judge David Viviano ruled this week that the case can move forward but said that although Zielinski is indigent and imprisoned, he must post a $10,000 bond to cover the store and employees' attorney's fees if he loses the case."
It looks like taking the law into your own hands is never a good idea!
Related Resources:
- Employer Liability for an Employee's Bad Acts (Findlaw)
- Premises Liability - Overview (Findlaw)
- Judge: Robber Can Sue Store He Robbed (CBS News)
- Premises Liability Overview (provided by The Krist Law Firm, P.C.)
- Personal Injury Overview (provided by Seidman Law Offices)