Greed

A woman from Washington, D.C., is seeking $54 million from Best Buy because she claims in a lawsuit that the consumer electronics retailer lost her laptop while it was in for repairs and tried to cover up its disappearance.

"It's a ridiculous number," admitted Raelyn Campbell, 37, of the $54 million figure. "I had to come up with a number that was significant enough that might force them to pay attention to me."

In her lawsuit filed Nov. 16 in Washington Superior Court, Campbell also claims the Richfield-based company failed to immediately notify her of the possibility of identity theft. She is seeking punitive damages, plus the cost of her computer and expenses for identity theft protection.

A Best Buy spokeswoman said the company already gave Campbell $1,110.35 for the cost of the laptop and warranty, as well as a $500 gift card for her inconvenience.

Campbell said in her blog that the $1,110.35 was put on her credit card without her knowledge in October, and she kept it to cover expenses. She tried to return the $500 gift card to Best Buy, and when she got no response, she donated it, she said.