Cash Settlement for Vietnam Veteran Racially Profiled at Fort Wayne Menards

The Situation

An elderly Black Vietnam veteran was stopped and accused of stealing at a Menards store in Fort Wayne, a business where he regularly enjoyed shopping. He maintained that he had not taken any merchandise.

The Legal Challenge and Strategy

Attorney Nicholson used store video to test the accusation and show that the client did not steal the items attributed to him. The video supported the claim that the veteran had been racially profiled.

The Result

The client received a cash settlement.

Why It Matters

Objective video evidence transformed a humiliating store accusation into a documented civil-rights claim and secured compensation for the client.

Practice area(s): Civil Litigation, Constitutional Law

Mark Nicholson

Why is Indiana criminal defense and personal injury attorney Mark Nicholson called the Battery Man? Because his first criminal jury trial was a battery case. The case was called the Big Buford Battery case. They charged his client with throwing a big Buford sandwich at the manager through the drive-thru window. Then, his client went through the drive-thru window and allegedly battered the manager. It was all captured on video. The verdict: Not Guilty! His first personal injury case was a car accident. He views car accidents as a form of battery. One car hitting (battering) another, although generally unintentional.

Case Results