HOUSTON -- A Harris County civil jury has ordered Walmart pay a Houston woman $9 million after she was arrested and falsely accused of forgery.
Nitra Gipson, a former Texas Southern University student, tried to cash $4,100 in Walmart money orders at the store in Meyer park back in 2008.
Gipson needed to pay for her last two semesters at TSU, so she sold her car and was paid $4,100 in Walmart money orders.
However, the store manager thought the money orders were fake, called police and insisted she be charged with forgery.
Gipson spent two days in jail even though those money orders were legitimate.
A spokesman says Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is reviewing legal options after a jury reached a $9 million verdict in favor of a Houston woman who was wrongly arrested at one of the company’s stores.
Wal-Mart spokesman David Tovar said Sunday the world’s largest retailer believes the verdict reached Friday in a Houston court was "not supported by the facts of the case."
Tovar says Gipson was arrested on outstanding traffic warrants, not the money orders.
