They "got him" because he plead guilty. No further proof needed.

A lawsuit will cost more than you are owed.....

If you sue them a judge will decide if they are liable. They will have all the facts. We don't.

This is not a job search forum................................

Unfortunately this presents a land mine of issues. So IMO you should have an attorney.

That is up to the attorney. Doesn't sound like an issue.

Any of us would just be guessing......................

Lawsuits are expensive and time consuming. Your rights are probably limited by your contract with them.

Winco will say you are a thief who tried to get away, and they lawfully tried to detain you. If you were injured you can hire a lawyer and look...

Can I sue a phone carrier for scam calls? Not successfully.