Untitled Texas Attorney General Opinion

OF TEXAS
.AUSTXN. ‘l%XAS 78711
Honorable Carol S. Vance Opinion No. H-1058
District Attorney
Harris County. Courthouse Re: Whether a list of "known
Houston, Texas 77002 shoplifters" can be circulated.
Dear Mr. Vance:
You have requested our opinion regarding the circulation
of a list of "known shoplifters" by a retail merchants asso-
ciation.
Prior to 1974, the Texas Penal Code prohibited the cir-
culation of "any malicious statement affecting the reputation
of another" which conveyed the idea that the accused was guilty
of a penal offense or was "notoriously of bad or infamous charac-
ter." Former Penal Code arts. 1269;. 1275(4). The criminal
libel laws were omitted, however, from the present Penal Code.
Thus, no portion of the Penal Code would appearto prohibit a
retail merchants association from circulating a list of per-
sons suspected of shoplifting. Neither are the blacklisting
or anti-discrimination statutes, articles 5196-5207b, V.T.C.S.,
applicable to ,such a situation, since they apply only to em-
ployees or former employees.
On the other hand, to accuse falsely any person of criminal
conduct~might be viewed by a court as libelous per se under the
Texas libel statute, article 5430, V.T.C.S., so as to give rise
to a civil action'for damages. Be10 v. Fuller, 19 S.W. 616,
617 (Tex. 1892); Hornby v. Hunter, 385 S.W.Zd 473, 475-76 (Tex.
Civ. App. -- Corpus Christi 1964, no writ). See Annot., 29
A.L.R. 3d 961 (1970); ~Paul v. Davis, 424 U.S:693, 697 (1976)
(injury to one's reputation by state officials does not violate
the Fourteenth Amendment but would appear to give rise to a
state claim for defamation). Accordingly, it is our opinion
that, although circulation of a list of "known shoplifters" by
a retail merchant association would violate no provision of
state penal law, it might give rise to.a civil action for
defamation if it can be shown that the characterization was
false.
P. 4347
.
Honorable Carol, S. Vance - Page 2 (H-1058)
SUMMARY.
Although,the circulation of a list of
"known shoplifters" by a retail merchants
associations would appear to violate no
provision of Texas penal law, it might
gives rise to.a civil action for damages
on the basis.of either libel or invasion
of,privacy if it can be shown that the
characterization was false.
N L. HILL
torney General of Texas
APPROVED:
c. ROBERT HEATH, Chairman
Opinion Committee
jst
p. 4348