2018 Tennessee Code
Title 39 - Criminal Offenses
Chapter 14 - Offenses Against Property
Part 1 - Theft
§ 39-14-144. Civil liability of adult, parent or guardian for theft of retail merchandise by minor.

(a) If the appropriate district attorney general consents to use of this section as provided in subsection (i), in lieu of any criminal penalties imposed by § 39-14-105 for theft offenses, any adult or parent or guardian of a minor who willfully takes possession of merchandise from a retail merchant with the intent to convert the merchandise to personal use without paying the purchase price is subject to civil liability, should the merchant prevail, as follows:

• (1) For the adult or emancipated minor:

  • (A) The greater of one hundred dollars ($100) or an amount three (3) times the listed retail price of the merchandise taken if the merchant does not recover the merchandise;

  • (B) The greater of one hundred dollars ($100) or an amount three (3) times the difference between the value of the damaged merchandise and the value of the merchandise prior to its conversion if the merchant recovers the merchandise but it is in a damaged state; or

  • (C) The greater of one hundred dollars ($100) or an amount twice the listed retail price of the merchandise if the merchant recovers the merchandise in the same condition it was in prior to the conversion; or

• (2) For the parent or legal guardian having custody of an unemancipated minor who has been negligent in the supervision of the unemancipated minor:

  • (A) The greater of one hundred dollars ($100) or an amount three (3) times the listed retail price of the merchandise taken if the merchant does not recover the merchandise;

  • (B) The greater of one hundred dollars ($100) or an amount three (3) times the difference between the value of the damaged merchandise and the value of the merchandise prior to its conversion if the merchant recovers the merchandise but it is in a damaged state; or

  • (C) The greater of one hundred dollars ($100) or an amount twice the listed retail price of the merchandise if the merchant recovers the merchandise in the same condition it was in prior to the conversion.

(b) Civil liability under this section is not limited by any other law concerning the liability of parents or guardians or minors.

(c) A conviction for the offense of shoplifting is not a prerequisite to the maintenance of a civil action authorized by this section.

(d) The fact that a mercantile establishment may bring an action against an individual as provided in this section shall not limit the right of the establishment to demand, orally or in writing, that a person who is liable for damages and penalties under this section remit the damages prior to the consideration of the commencement of any legal action.

(e) An action for recovery of damages and penalties under this section may be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction, including a court of general sessions, if the total damages do not exceed the jurisdictional limit of the court involved.

(f) If a written agreement is entered into between the merchant and the person responsible for damages and penalties pursuant to this section concerning the liability of the person and the payment of the damages and penalties, the agreement and the contents of the agreement shall remain confidential as long as the parties to the agreement continue to adhere to its terms.

(g) The civil remedy conferred upon merchants by this section shall not apply if the listed retail price of the merchandise taken was in excess of five hundred dollars ($500).

(h) Use of the civil remedy conferred upon merchants by this section shall not be construed to be a violation of § 39-16-604, prohibiting the compounding of an offense.

(i) Any demand in writing or other document sent to the adult, parent or guardian of a minor covered by this section shall also be sent to the district attorney general of the judicial district in which the offense occurred. If the appropriate district attorney general has not, within ten (10) days from the date the document was sent, objected to the use of this section in lieu of criminal prosecution, the district attorney general is deemed to have consented to the use of this section by the mercantile establishment. If the mercantile establishment does not send a written demand or other document to the adult, parent or guardian, the district attorney general must be notified and must consent, either orally or in writing, to the use of this section in lieu of criminal prosecution.

(j) Whenever a retail merchant, the merchant's agent, or the merchant's employee apprehends an adult or minor who has committed theft as described in subsection (a), the merchant, agent, or employee shall not at that time enter into any written agreement to accept civil damages in lieu of criminal penalties or actually accept any civil damages.