Can a liquor store clerk hold you hostage by locking the store doors?
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Can a liquor store clerk hold you hostage by locking the store doors?
I asked liquor store clerk for lotto ticket to fill out. He reached under the counter and handed me one that was already filled out. When I told him that ticket had already been filled out he became abusive and demanded I give him $2. When I refused, telling him I did not fill out that ticket he locked the store doors on me. When he realized that I was not going to give him any money, he released the doors. When I walked out, I called the Police and made a report. When he locked the doors on me he should have called the Police if he though I was trying to cheat him out of something.
Asked on August 2, 2012 under General Practice, Arkansas
Answers:
MD, Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
What the liquor store clerk did is both odd and fraudulent. Sounds like he is cheating the owner and state lottery out of profits. You need to not only follow up with the police and sue the clerk and store owner and corporation who probably owns the company but you also need to let the state lottery commission know what occurred. It may lead to an investigation and possibly pulling that store's license to operate a lottery branch.
FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
From what you have written, it was clear that the liquor store clerk was able to lock the store's doors and hold you hostage over the dispute involving the lottery ticket. What the clerk did was legally improper. I would write the store's owner and make a complaint about what transpired.
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