[ROCKLOBSTER]

so what's the real harm here

Defamation of character?

[zencycler]

Defamation of Character?

I believe that would require her to show that there was damage done to her reputation caused by other customers knowing her (or taking significant note of who she was), and reasonably believed that her detention meant she was guilty of some crime.

As customers who did not know her likely gave her no more than a passing glance, and as customers who may have known her would not be reasonable in jumping to such a conclusion, I personally would not support a defamation of character grounds for any large award, were I on her jury, unless there was some other specific evidence which shows the store went out of their way to defame her during, or after, her detention.