Alameda, Calif.

Home Depot has intimidated thousands of customers accused of shoplifting into collectively paying millions of dollars to have such accusations dropped, even though the company has no intention of suing, a class-action suit alleges. The suit claims that the big-box retailer is using California's Civil Shopping Law as "a profit center" by arbitrarily seeking "damages" from accused customers. 

Minneapolis-based Target Corp. plans to open new stores in Alameda, Calif., and Baltimore in October 2013. The new 140,000-sq.-ft. California store will be located at the Alameda Landing Shopping Center, and the 135,000-sq.-ft. Baltimore store will be...