SC shopper falsely accused of spending a counterfeit bill at Target settles lawsuit with store

Woman wrongly accused of using fake bill settles

GREENVILLE, S.C. — A South Carolina woman wrongly accused by Target of using a fake $100 bill has settled a lawsuit with the retailer after an employee sent her picture to 75 businesses, claiming she tried to use counterfeit money, her attorney said Thursday.

Secret Service agents determined the bill Rita Cantrell used in 2006 wasn’t a fake. Cantrell sued Target and a jury awarded her $3.1 million a year ago, in part for the humiliation she says she suffered.

“Everybody is relieved,” said Cantrell’s attorney, Billy Wilkins.

The terms of the settlement were not disclosed and Wilkins declined Thursday to provide details citing court orders.

Target sought to have the award reduced, but a federal judge upheld the award, calling the amount necessary to stop the company from similar behavior in the future.

Wilkins agreed that the award sends a message.

“I suspect that the message has been received and heard loud and clear by Target and perhaps other retailers as well who will make sure that things like this don’t happen again,” he said.

The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed Target’s appeal “upon such terms as have been agreed to by the parties,” court documents showed.

Target owns more than 1,700 stores in 49 states. A message for a company spokesman was not immediately returned.