Refusal of Service Based On "Attitude"

Originally Posted by trueforest

My question involves a consumer law issue in the State of: Massachusetts

About a month ago I was shopping at a food store, when I had an altercation with a cashier/floor manager. I am 13 years old, and had come from an art gallery, and was dressed in not the nicest clothes obviously, for reasons of paint staining. As I was shopping I noticed a store worker watching my friends and I for quite some time, standing at the end of the rows.

As I was standing in the checkout line of this fairly large supermarket, I noticed the same man watching me from about twenty feet away. As you may imagine, this was becoming a bit bothersome, and I asked him "What?", in response to his stare.

He then repeatedly told me to leave the store. When I asked him why he said he didn't like my attitude, and had supposedly heard me swear when talking to one of my friends. We were not being obnoxious to anyone in the store, nor were we shoplifting. When I persisted in asking him why I had to leave, he told me he would call the police, and told me that if I was not out in five seconds he would proceed in doing so. At this point I do admit my speech may have become laced with some expletives, but I in no way became threatening, and you must remember, this is a grown man, and I am thirteen.

I truly wonder if he had the right to eject me from the store, as I did leave after some protest. He told me if I ever came back into the store, he would call the police, and that a video camera had recorded my face, which he would turn into the police. During our exchange he asked me my name which I refused to give.

What is the legal aspect to this, and also what is the opinion of forum goers?

Thank you for your time.

Originally Posted by GentleGrace

While I contemplated posting a serious reply to this query, I thought better of it. Clearly, while you are not actually a 13 year old, you are posing as one. That being the case, it is very unwise for anyone, in particular, an adult, to converse with minor aged children online, not only for your own safety, but also for our own. I suggest you talk with your parents, who should have known where you were that day and who should have taught you self control and respect--at least enough so you can refrain from childish and profane outbursts when an authority figure instructs you to do something whether or not you like it.

That is the extent of conversation that a minor aged child <cough cough> will get here, I suspect, in particular since you cannot bring any type of legal action against the store anyway since you are not of legal age.

Find your parents. And go shopping with them.

Originally Posted by trueforest

To put it kindly, I truly don't care about your obviously biased and somewhat inflammatory remarks.

I'm not nine years old, I'm thirteen and my parents knew damn well where I was, and trust me enough to act accordingly, which if you read the story you will see I did.

Just because somebody is in a position of authority, does not mean that you take bullshit from them at all times.