Wayne Co. man says Wal-mart cashed stolen checks

HUNTINGTON -- A Wayne County man is suing Wal-mart Stores, Inc., after checks were stolen from his home and cashed at various Wal-mart stores in West Virginia and Ohio.

Lloyd D. Hale went on vacation in July and when he returned, he became aware that numerous checks had been stolen from his home and cashed at various Wal-mart locations in West Virginia and Ohio, according to a complaint filed Sept. 14 in Cabell Circuit Court.

Hale claims he went to and contacted various Wal-mart locations to speak with the managers about finding out who stole the checks. Hale claims the managers refused to allow him to view video recordings that would show who cashed the checks.

Wal-mart failed to check the identity of the individual who cashed Hale’s checks, according to the suit.

Hale claims he was advised by the manager of the Wal-mart location in Wayne that it was not the policy of Wal-mart to check the identification of individuals who utilized checks in their stores.

The defendant negligently, willfully, wantonly, maliciously and unlawfully refused to allow Hale to view videos to ascertain the identity of the individual who cashed the checks and as a result of Wal-mart’s negligence, Hale suffered an economic loss, aggravation, annoyance, inconvenience and other damages, according to the suit.

Hale is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. He is being represented by Paul E. Biser.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge David M. Pancake.

Cabell Circuit Court case number: 12-C-613