Fri Sep 14, 2012, 11:44 PM
trailmonkee (2,595 posts)
Julia Garcia, Texas Mom, Sues Walmart After She Says Store Employees Ripped Up Her Money
Source: Huffington Post
Two Walmart employees are in hot water after they allegedly destroyed two $100 bills when a customer tried to pay with them. According to Court House News, Julia Garcia is suing Walmart Stores after the "humiliating ordeal" she endured at the hands of two employees who accused her of using counterfeit currency at a San Garcia says she was Christmas shopping with her children at a in San Antonio in December 2010 and entered a checkout lane around 2 a.m. Garcia says she paid for her $150 purchase with a $100 bill, a $50 bill and change. "The cashier inspected the $100 bill, turned to another cashier and had a brief discussion, and returned to her register telling the plaintiff her money was 'fake,'" the complaint states. "The cashier proceeded to rip the $100 bill in half without performing any counterfeit detection tests. The metallic strip in the $100 bill was clearly visible." Garcia claims that a manager named Russell was then called over. Russell allegedly told her that the money was counterfeit and that she would have to wait for the police. According to the complaint, Garcia then pulled out another $100 bill that she had in her possession. She alleges that Russell took the second bill from her and ripped it in half as well, saying that it, too, was counterfeit. Garcia claims that Walmart made her wait at the front of the store, "in plain sight of all passing customers," until police arrived. She said she was publicly humiliated by the store's employees who told other shoppers that she had been trying to use fake currency. Finally, two police officers arrived at the store. Upon checking the torn notes, they determined that both were legal tender. Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/14/julia-garcia-texas-sues-walmart-accused-of-counterfeit-money_n_1882400.html?ncid=edlinkusaolp00000003
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48 replies, 7124 views
| Author | Time | Post | |
| trailmonkee | Sep 2012 | OP | |
| darkangel218 | Sep 2012 | #1 | |
| lumpy | Sep 2012 | #2 | |
| emilyg | Sep 2012 | #16 | |
| Lasher | Sep 2012 | #20 | |
| bananas | Sep 2012 | #21 | |
| Art_from_Ark | Sep 2012 | #31 | |
| alfredo | Sep 2012 | #3 | |
| cstanleytech | Sep 2012 | #4 | |
| freshwest | Sep 2012 | #9 | |
| davidthegnome | Sep 2012 | #10 | |
| lonestarnot | Sep 2012 | #14 | |
| trailmonkee | Sep 2012 | #11 | |
| cstanleytech | Sep 2012 | #15 | |
| trailmonkee | Sep 2012 | #22 | |
| Journeyman | Sep 2012 | #12 | |
| cstanleytech | Sep 2012 | #18 | |
| siligut | Sep 2012 | #17 | |
| unblock | Sep 2012 | #24 | |
| valerief | Sep 2012 | #40 | |
| KamaAina | Sep 2012 | #5 | |
| TexasBushwhacker | Sep 2012 | #7 | |
| muntrv | Sep 2012 | #6 | |
| Spitfire of ATJ | Sep 2012 | #8 | |
| emilyg | Sep 2012 | #19 | |
| Loudestlib | Sep 2012 | #23 | |
| Spitfire of ATJ | Sep 2012 | #26 | |
| CreekDog | Sep 2012 | #28 | |
| frylock | Sep 2012 | #29 | |
| sammytko | Sep 2012 | #43 | |
| sammytko | Sep 2012 | #44 | |
| Simeon Salus | Sep 2012 | #13 | |
| Spitfire of ATJ | Sep 2012 | #27 | |
| SoapBox | Sep 2012 | #25 | |
| sakabatou | Sep 2012 | #30 | |
| eShirl | Sep 2012 | #33 | |
| emilyg | Sep 2012 | #42 | |
| whistler162 | Sep 2012 | #46 | |
| Art_from_Ark | Sep 2012 | #32 | |
| marble falls | Sep 2012 | #36 | |
| Art_from_Ark | Sep 2012 | #41 | |
| DeSwiss | Sep 2012 | #34 | |
| Politicalboi | Sep 2012 | #35 | |
| DeSwiss | Sep 2012 | #45 | |
| MatthewStLouis | Sep 2012 | #37 | |
| tjdee | Sep 2012 | #38 | |
| thesquanderer | Sep 2012 | #39 | |
| Ash_F | Sep 2012 | #47 | |
| progressoid | Sep 2012 | #48 |
Response to trailmonkee (Original post)
darkangel218 This message was self-deleted by its author.
Response to trailmonkee (Original post)
Fri Sep 14, 2012, 11:48 PM
lumpy (12,137 posts)
2. The employees should be tried for destroying legal tender.
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n
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Response to lumpy (Reply #2)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 12:27 AM
emilyg (22,742 posts)
16. Hope they were fired.
Response to lumpy (Reply #2)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 12:29 AM
Lasher (20,462 posts)
20. Not illegal in the States.
Response to lumpy (Reply #2)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 12:31 AM
bananas (20,128 posts)
21. It's a felony, isn't it? nt
Response to bananas (Reply #21)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 02:44 AM
Art_from_Ark (16,883 posts)
31. The law is a bit ambiguous about that
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"Defacement of currency is a violation of Title 18, Section 333 of the United States Code. Under this provision, currency defacement is generally defined as follows: Whoever mutilates, cuts, disfigures, perforates, unites or cements together, or does any other thing to any bank bill, draft, note, or other evidence of debt issued by any national banking association, Federal Reserve Bank, or Federal Reserve System, with intent to render such item(s) unfit to be reissued, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than six months, or both.
"Defacement of currency in such a way that it is made unfit for circulation comes under the jurisdiction of the United States Secret Service. The United States Secret Service web address is www.secretservice.gov." |
Response to trailmonkee (Original post)
Fri Sep 14, 2012, 11:49 PM
alfredo (46,511 posts)
3. I hope she wins big. That was just plain nasty of them. Assholes.
Response to trailmonkee (Original post)
Fri Sep 14, 2012, 11:50 PM
cstanleytech (5,292 posts)
4. "December 2010" Maybe I am missing something but if this was really so traumatic
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for her why did she wait two years nearly to file a lawsuit?
Just seems, odd. |
Response to cstanleytech (Reply #4)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 12:02 AM
freshwest (31,265 posts)
9. In Texas you have a limit and she probably didn't have someone to make the case yet. And a person
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Last edited Sat Sep 15, 2012, 01:42 AM USA/ET - Edit history (1) Who is forced to do their shopping in the middle of the night hasn't exactly got the best life schedule, either. It depends on circumstances. She did it within the statutory limit and they are fair game until then. I hope she prevails and the law smites their arrogant, ignorant, grandstanding asses.
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Response to cstanleytech (Reply #4)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 12:02 AM
davidthegnome (1,864 posts)
10. You're right, it is rather odd.
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One possible answer is that she didn't have the resources or the connections to pursue any kind of legal action. Not knowing enough about the case, I can't say for sure.
I do know though, as a very socially awkward person... when you are humiliated in public (especially in the manner this woman must have been) it is... harder than most could imagine, to face those who witnessed it, or to risk the same happening again. Perhaps she was a shy person who was more devastated by this event than someone else would be - and even someone who was more secure, even a social butterfly, would find this very humiliating. |
Response to davidthegnome (Reply #10)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 12:26 AM
lonestarnot (71,133 posts)
14. Egg shell rule says take 'em as you get 'em.
Response to cstanleytech (Reply #4)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 12:02 AM
trailmonkee (2,595 posts)
11. ? you never know... either way, it was totally fucked up
Response to trailmonkee (Reply #11)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 12:27 AM
cstanleytech (5,292 posts)
15. Oh I agree and the manager should have at the very least have been demoted to
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cashier (so as to familiarize themselves better with money) and Walmart should have also atleast offered her an apology for their employees screwup.
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Response to cstanleytech (Reply #15)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 12:31 AM
trailmonkee (2,595 posts)
22. seems like less to do with money than assumptions on the part of the employees
Response to cstanleytech (Reply #4)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 12:10 AM
Journeyman (9,193 posts)
12. It could be her attorney was trying to settle with Walmart out of court . . .
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and finally determined they weren't going to get satisfaction using that route and so filed suit.
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Response to Journeyman (Reply #12)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 12:28 AM
cstanleytech (5,292 posts)
18. Good point, the article is very lacking on why it took this long to file so that could be one of the
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reasons.
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Response to cstanleytech (Reply #4)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 12:27 AM
siligut (10,992 posts)
17. The way the article reads, it seems that she was encouraged by readers on Reddit
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"For the record, there was zero reason for them to tear up the bill, even if it was counterfeit. There is no policy in place telling anyone to do this with counterfeit bills, and in fact, because the bills have to be turned over to investigators, the tearing up of the bill would count as destroying evidence. Just wanted to point that out. If the employees actually did what the report says they did, then they were idiots on top of being asshats," said user "this_isnt_happening."
So while she was traumatized, maybe she didn't know she had a case. |
Response to cstanleytech (Reply #4)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 12:45 AM
unblock (23,740 posts)
24. filing quickly is not often a good strategy.
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you want to take the time to build a case, gather witnesses and evidence, and assess the damage. especially for emotional damages, this might take time to assess and document.
hypothetically, say 18 months after the incident, a client walks into her workplace, recognizes her, and tells her boss about the incident, and the boss fires her, can't have clients thinking we might have a counterfeiter on staff. better for that sort of thing to come out before settling with wal-mart. |
Response to cstanleytech (Reply #4)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 09:57 AM
valerief (35,667 posts)
40. She may have been afraid of retaliation from the asshole clerks if she filed immediately.
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Maybe she's moved and feels safe enough now to sue.
All the crazy people have all the guns today. |
Response to trailmonkee (Original post)
Fri Sep 14, 2012, 11:51 PM
KamaAina (45,188 posts)
5. She can get them back
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using whichever half is over 50% of the original.
And a hell of a lot more by suing the bastards! |
Response to KamaAina (Reply #5)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 12:00 AM
TexasBushwhacker (2,990 posts)
7. Not anymore, you have to have the whole serial number n/t
Response to trailmonkee (Original post)
Fri Sep 14, 2012, 11:54 PM
muntrv (8,341 posts)
6. The douchebaggery is trickling down from the Waltons to these employees.
Response to trailmonkee (Original post)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 12:00 AM
Spitfire of ATJ (7,342 posts)
8. Her name is "Julia Garcia". This is in Texas. Connect the dots.
Response to Spitfire of ATJ (Reply #8)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 12:28 AM
emilyg (22,742 posts)
19. Since she used cash - I doubt
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they knew her name.
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Response to emilyg (Reply #19)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 12:33 AM
Loudestlib (135 posts)
23. They don't care about the name, they care about the face.
Response to emilyg (Reply #19)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 01:28 AM
Spitfire of ATJ (7,342 posts)
26. I've been looking for a picture of her.
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Could very well be those idiots figured she didn't LOOK like someone who would have hundred dollar bills on her.
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Response to emilyg (Reply #19)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 01:42 AM
CreekDog (37,053 posts)
28. we know, we know, it's not racism unless it's against Christian Anglos
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Response to Spitfire of ATJ (Reply #8)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 11:47 AM
sammytko (2,081 posts)
43. It's San Antonio - about 60 or more percent Hispanic.
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The Walmart workers were probably Hispanic also.
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Response to sammytko (Reply #43)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 11:54 AM
sammytko (2,081 posts)
44. Looked up the location from the court document.
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8500 jones maltsBerger rd. it is in a part of the city where the percentage of hispanic population decreases.
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Response to trailmonkee (Original post)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 12:22 AM
Simeon Salus (637 posts)
13. I hope it's not too snarky to say
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but if they made a movie about somebody ripping up two $100 bills and put it on YouTube, Republicans might riot...
Seems like we spend a lot more time worshiping the mighty dollar, compared to when I was younger. |
Response to Simeon Salus (Reply #13)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 01:31 AM
Spitfire of ATJ (7,342 posts)
27. I have three words guaranteed to flip out a Right Winger,...
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"It's only money".
Remember when that used to be used to remember what was really important? They used to say that in muggings/robberies. "It's only money, it's not worth your life". |
Response to trailmonkee (Original post)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 01:14 AM
SoapBox (5,799 posts)
25. I've never stepped foot in any Walmart businesses
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and never will.
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Response to SoapBox (Reply #25)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 03:25 AM
eShirl (11,920 posts)
33. Well aren't you special.
Response to SoapBox (Reply #25)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 11:14 AM
emilyg (22,742 posts)
42. How nice for you. I go
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to Walmart to stretch my SS.
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Response to SoapBox (Reply #25)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 04:34 PM
whistler162 (5,613 posts)
46. Why with your command of the English language
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you would fit well with your prejudged view of people who shop there!
It is "I've never set foot in any Walmart businesses" |
Response to trailmonkee (Original post)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 02:52 AM
Art_from_Ark (16,883 posts)
32. There is no metallic strip in $100 bills
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"The cashier proceeded to rip the $100 bill in half without performing any counterfeit detection tests. The metallic strip in the $100 bill was clearly visible."
It is actually a plastic strip that is very weakly magnetic. Hold it up to the light and look at it with a magnifying glass-- it should read USA 100, then the same upside down, in an alternating pattern. The watermark on the redesigned notes should be clearly visible. Hold the note up to the light, and on the right side there should be a watermark portrait of Franklin. There should also be tiny colored fibers in the paper (which is actually a kind of linen), and the 100 in the lower right corner should change color as you tilt the bill. |
Response to Art_from_Ark (Reply #32)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 06:19 AM
marble falls (1,901 posts)
36. Being magnetic means there is some sort of ferrous metal in there somewhere.
Response to marble falls (Reply #36)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 10:06 AM
Art_from_Ark (16,883 posts)
41. It may contain a miniscule amount of metal
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but it is 99.99% plastic (mylar). I would not call that "metallic".
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Response to trailmonkee (Original post)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 04:15 AM
DeSwiss (17,171 posts)
34. The true but unspoken irony here......
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....is that an employee, and even a manager of the largest chain-store in the world, doesn't know what a real $50 or $100 bill looks like. Maybe Walmart should send some of their tight-fisted executives in to train the employees in recognizing the higher denomination bills.
- Apparently they're the only ones who're getting them...........
K&R |
Response to trailmonkee (Original post)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 04:44 AM
Politicalboi (9,439 posts)
35. I wonder if WalMart will pay her
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All in 100's.
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Response to Politicalboi (Reply #35)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 03:52 PM
DeSwiss (17,171 posts)
45. Sally Brown takes what's coming to her in $10s and $20s......
Response to trailmonkee (Original post)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 08:34 AM
MatthewStLouis (673 posts)
37. The employees were jack arses, but why did she pull out another bill?
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I'd learn pretty fast after that first one was ripped in half.
I'm not sure I'd agree this warrants a lawsuit either, as much as I hate Wal-of-China-Mart. |
Response to MatthewStLouis (Reply #37)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 08:39 AM
tjdee (18,042 posts)
38. Probably handed it all at once.
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If I were paying for something that cost 40 bucks, I'd hand the cashier two 20 dollar bills at once.....
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Response to MatthewStLouis (Reply #37)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 09:41 AM
thesquanderer (1,104 posts)
39. the second hundred dollar bill
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She probably just wanted to pay and get out of there, and was willing to do whatever she thought might work, even if it cost her an extra hundred.
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Response to trailmonkee (Original post)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 04:56 PM
Ash_F (1,727 posts)
47. If you work for walmart, you are probably not used to seeing 100$ bills
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Response to trailmonkee (Original post)
Sat Sep 15, 2012, 09:22 PM
progressoid (27,267 posts)


- Apparently they're the only ones who're getting them...........