Sean Rossman

Democrat staff writer

A Tallahassee woman wrongfully accused of stealing a coffee at a Circle K convenience store in Killearn has sued the company.

Jennifer Wotherspoon alleges one count of defamation and seeks more than $15,000 in damages. Her complaint, filed in Leon County Court on Friday, said the incident caused her "extreme humiliation, embarrassment and mental anguish."

In December 2014, Wotherspoon tried to buy gas and cigarettes at the Circle K on Shamrock Street. But the clerk, the complaint said, told her she needed to leave the store because Wotherspoon was not permitted to be there.

Wotherspoon asked if she was joking. The clerk said, "I'm not joking. You know you stole a cup of coffee when your EBT card was declined a few days ago."

Wotherspoon denied the accusation. However, the clerk told her to leave the store or she would call the police.

The next day, the store manager called Wotherspoon to apologize and offered her a $50 gift card. The manager said a review of the store’s security tape showed she was not the person who stole the coffee.

But the apology, the lawsuit said, did not make up for the "embarrassment and humiliation" Wotherspoon felt. The lawsuit claims Wotherspoon’s reputation was tarnished by being labeled a criminal and the store was negligent for spreading false statements. Wotherspoon, the complaint said, has lost enjoyment of life and good standing in the community.

But Wotherspoon does have a criminal past. In 2009, she was charged with numerous counts ranging from grand theft of a motor vehicle, to petty theft and fraud. She ended up serving jail time.

Wotherspoon's attorney Marie Mattox and Circle K representatives were not immediately available for comment.

Circle K Stores Inc. has faced three other discrimination suits since 2009. In 2012, a Circle K employee sued for racial discrimination. In 2015, a female employee filed an action alleging gender discrimination and retaliation.

Contact Sean Rossman atsrossman@tallahassee.com or follow@SeanRossman on Twitter.