Civil Demand Letters

If you’ve recently been arrested for shoplifting then you will likely receive Civil Demand Letters from an attorney demanding that you repay the retail store from where you stole. Sections (b) and (c) of CA civil demand letters Penal Code 490.5 state that it is your responsibility to pay the store for damages and loss property valued from $50 to $500. You will also be responsible to pay for any out-of-pocket expenses that the retail store acquired because of your action, namely their attorney costs. If you are a minor then that responsibility falls onto your parents.

The letter will also claim that if you do not reimburse the retail store then further legal action will take place, namely a civil lawsuit, where you will be required to pay for this as well (a filing fee for small claims court, $30).

These letters will be intimidating and appear to be time sensitive. But how concerned should you be if you receive one of these letters and how much legal power do they carry?

Well the answer varies from case to case, for some cases little legal action can take place, while others require legal action and consultation with a criminal defense attorney. With that being said, if you receive one of these letters I would advise you to contact a skilled criminal defense attorney before casually discarding it.