Trial News

Randall and Claudia Childress brought their vehicle to a Costco Wholesale tire shop. They arranged to have their car’s tires rotated and gave the vehicle’s keys to a tire shop representative. Several hours later, a Costco employee failed to follow company procedure and gave the Childresses’s keys to third parties in the store’s parking lot who told the employee that the keys would be returned to their father, who was reportedly waiting in the tire shop. Instead, the third parties drove off in the Childresses's vehicle.

The Childresses later found their stolen vehicle; however, several items were missing, including Randall’s pistol, keys to their spare truck and to buildings located on their property, and papers from the glove compartment that contained identifying information. The couple was forced to change the locks on their buildings and spare vehicle. Additionally, both Randall and Claudia Childress suffered emotional distress, and Randall suffered aggravation of his preexisting post-traumatic stress disorder.

The Childresses sued Costco Wholesale Corp., alleging that the defendant was negligent in handling their vehicle and failed to train the tire shop employee regarding the proper procedure for returning vehicles to customers.

The jury awarded more than $65,000.

Citation: Childress v. Costco Wholesale Corp., No. CV 18-183-M-DWM (D. Mont. Apr. 25, 2019).

Plaintiff counsel: Quentin M. Rhoades and Kristin Bannigan, both of Missoula, Mont.