My daughter, as well was charged with shop lifting at Zellers and I have received a letter from a lawyer stating if I do not settle its claim for damages they may receive specific instructions, whether to commence legal proceedings. My issue is, if I do not pay them, it will cost me more if they take me to civil court. This is my daughters first affence.

My daughter, as well was charged with shop lifting at Zellers and I have received a letter from a lawyer stating if I do not settle its claim for damages they may receive specific instructions, whether or not to commence legal proceedings. My issue is, if I do not pay them, it will cost me more if they take me to civil court. This is my daughters first affence.

What are they asking for?
What are their damages?

Was whatever was taken recovered?
Was it damaged or otherwise made unsaleable?
If not, it would appear that the store was not damaged in a monetary sense.

I'm not sure what you are talking about/asking about but the legality of a policy which requires the person to repay the store for its cost in apprehending the person has been argued on this board more than once. To date no one has been able to provide a law which enables this to happen BUT it is a common practice in Canada whether the merchandise is returned, still saleable, or not.

I believe your daughter is being asked to pay the store's costs. People have posted before, refused to pay and been criminally charged.