Arkansas Appeals Court Upholds Bulk of $2.75M Award for Family Dollar Ex-Workers

The Arkansas Court of Appeals has upheld $2.75 million in damages awarded to two former employees of Family Dollar whom the business falsely accused of theft.

The court upheld the damages a Crittenden County jury awarded last year to Jimmy Huff and Robert Ward on their malicious prosecution claims against the company. The appeals court, however, dismissed the $250,000 the two each received on their outrage claims against Family Dollar.

The two mechanics had purchased and resold Family Dollar trailers that failed inspection, but the company denied that it ever authorized the sales. Huff and Ward said their supervisor had approved the sales.

The court agreed with the jury’s finding that Family Dollar lacked probable cause to file criminal charges against Huff and Ward.