HUNTSVILLE, Ark. (Legal Newsline) — Some light roughhousing was no need to shame them on social media, a group of Arkansas minors is saying in a lawsuit against Dollar General.
Laila Petersen, individually and as guardian and next friend of L.B., a minor, and others filed a complaint Oct. 6 in Madison County Circuit Court against Dolgencorp LLC, doing business as Dollar General, and others, alleging defamation and other claims.
According to the plaintiffs' complaint, L.B. and other friends were at a Dollar General in Huntsville on May 5, 2023. They claim a few members of the group of minors "roughhoused" in the toy aisle but did not break or harm any items.
The plaintiffs further claim an employee of the Dollar General accessed the store's security footage, took several screen shots of the minors' faces and then posted them on a local Facebook group called "Huntsville Arkansas Neighbors Helping Neighbors." The post, according to the plaintiffs, which labeled the minors as thieves and alleged their parents' failures to teach their children morals and etiquette, received a number of comments and likes.
The plaintiffs seek monetary relief, interest and all other just relief. They are represented by Alan Lane, Bryant Crooks, Martha-Kay Mettler of The Odom Law Firm PA in Fayetteville.
Arkansas Administrative Office of Courts case number 44CV-23-129