HOUSTON — A 72-year old man claims he was assaulted and falsely imprisoned after an altercation with 99 Cent Only Store employees.
Carols Beal filed a complaint April 28 in Harris County District Court against 99 Cents Only Stores LLC and 99 Cents Only Stores Texas Inc., alleging false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, assault and negligence.
According to his complaint, Beal was at the 99 Cent Only Store on March 22, 2020, and became involved in an altercation with store employees over the limited customer capacity due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. He abided by the limited capacity rules and waited in line outside of the store and then attempted to enter after one customer exited the store.
Beal alleges the store personnel "accosted" him, screamed at him and shoved him out of the store. He further alleges that store employees "pushed him out onto the sidewalk and to the ground."
Beal claims one of the store employees then took out a knife and kicked him while he was on the ground and that security camera footage shows he did not assault the employees but only defended himself. Beal claims he went home and was then arrested and spent the night in jail where he went without his medication and became ill.
He also claims in his suit that the Harris County District Attorney's Office dismissed the charges against him one year later.
Beal seeks monetary relief between $200,000 and $1 million, interest, trial by jury and all other just relief.
He is represented by Brook Akers of The Akers Law Firm PLLC in Houston.
Harris County District Court case number 2021-25258