Samuel David Bowden v. Caldor, Inc.

Fals imprisonment, malicious prosecution, defamation, wrongful discharge, and intentional infliction of emotional distress claims. Plaintiff, an African-American, was hired in 1988 by Defendant to work for its department store chain. Shortly after reporting to work on June 15, 1988, Bowden was detained and interrogated for over four hours in a small windowless office in the store by two employees of Caldor's security department, who accused him of stealing money and merchandise from the store. Bowden repeatedly denied their accusations. He made several attempts to leave the room or call his parents, but each time he was prevented from doing so by the security officers. Bowden, out of ear, finally capitulated to the security officers' demand and signed a written statement, dictated by the security personnel, stating that he was responsible for the thefts of money from the store. He was allowed to leave the store at approximately 11:00 p.m., nearly two hours after the store's scheduled closing time. Bowden informed his parents of these events, and he and his mother returned to the store the following day to discuss the matter with the store's security manager and another store manager. During the discussion, the store manager shout racial slurs at Bowden. The security officer, in the presence of Bowden's mother, grabbed Bowden's arm, led him to his office insde the store, and demanded that he and his parents make restitution for the alleged thefts. When Bowden refused his demands, he was handcuffed and paraded through the store customers. He reamined in full public view until Baltimore police officers arrived and arrested him. In December, 1988, a juvenille cout dismissed the charges finding that there was insufficient evidence from which to conclude that he had committed the thefts from the store.

Verdict for Plaintiff for $110,000 in compensatory damages and $350,000 in punitive damages.

Unknown

Unknown

The Circuit Court granted JNOV on part of Bowden's claims and reduced the award of compensator damages to $110,000 and left the punitive damages in place. The Court of Special appeals reversed the trial court on the punitive damage issues in 1993. On retrial, the jury awarded plaintiff $9 million but that verdict which was reduced by the Circuit Court to $350,000. Appeals of this action by Bowden resulted in another reversal of the case with instructions to Court of Appeals. See: 710 A.2d 267 (Md. 1998). Note: It is not known when this case was actually tried the first or second time. The date shown above is the date of the oppinion of the Maryland Court of Appeals decision.