Lawsuit: Man refuses to show receipt at Costco exit, employee breaks man's leg

PORTLAND -- A man who claims he was simply trying to leave a Costco without a checker reviewing his receipt has filed a $670,000 lawsuit against the grocery giant after he says his leg was broken by a exit employee who refused to let him leave.

As reported by the Oregonian, Timothy Walls left Costco on Jan. 28, 2013 with a broken leg following a fight with two men checking his receipt at Costco's exit.

Wall had just purchased $102.66 worth of goods at the 138th Avenue Costco in Portland, the Oregonian claims. He was headed toward the exit when -- as per store policy -- an employee asked to see his receipt. Wall allegedly refused, the Oregonian reported, and the employee allegedly grabbed his cart and told him he couldn't leave.

According to the suit, Wall grabbed the employee by the collar when he refused to let him go. That's when another employee came up from behind and used a "martial arts type strike" to Wall's leg, breaking it in multiple places, the suit claims.

Wall alleges he had already left the store when he was stopped by an employee, but Costco claims he was still in the exit breezeway, the Oregonian reported. According to store policy, checkers are supposed to ask for a receipt, "to ensure that all members are correctly charged for the merchandise purchased."

Wall's attorney told the Oregonian that employees didn't have a reasonable suspicion to suspect he was stealing anything, so they had no right to take hold of his merchandise. The suit claims that the store's policy of checking receipts shouldn't be detainment, but instead membership cancellation.

Costco claims Wall's injuries were a direct result of his own actions, the Oregonian reported.

According to the suit, Wall is seeking $150,000 for medical expenses, $20,000 for lost wages and $500,000 for pain and suffering.