Venue: San Francisco County

Jury Verdict/Result: Summary Judgment

Case Name: Fullah v. Stonestown Galleria, Sam Goody's

Description: Plaintiff was a patron of a record store at a mall in San Francisco. He was asked to leave the store following a verbal altercation with the store manager, originally alleged to be a physical fight. Plaintiff was later arrested by mall security and taken into custody by the San Francisco Police Department. He sued the store and the mall alleging (1) assault and battery; (2) false imprisonment; (3) negligence; (4) intentional infliction of emotional distress; (5) negligent hiring; (6) negligent infliction of emotional distress. Summary judgment was obtained for our client, Sam Goody's, on the grounds that (1) reports to police are privileged, (2) the qualified privilege of a common interest report, and (3) the plaintiff's deposition testimony contradicted the allegations in the complaint of intentional torts, including false imprisonment, assault & battery, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.