Exhibit 5
May 19, 2009
Board of Directors
J. C. Penney Company, Inc.
6501 Legacy Drive
Plano, TX 75024
Re: J. C. Penney Company, Inc.
2009 Long-Term Incentive Plan
Ladies and Gentlemen:
As Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of J. C. Penney Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Company”), I am familiar with the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company and its Bylaws, each as amended.
I am also familiar with the J. C. Penney Company, Inc. 2009 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“Plan”), and the corporate proceedings taken to authorize the offer of shares of JCPenney common stock of 50¢ par value (“JCPenney Common Stock”), of the Company thereunder. I have examined the Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission on this date for the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of 13,100,000 shares of JCPenney Common Stock to be offered pursuant to the Plan. I have also examined such other documents and records as I have deemed appropriate for the purposes of this opinion.
Based on the foregoing, I am of the opinion that the shares of JCPenney Common Stock to be offered pursuant to the Plan have been duly authorized and when issued, will have been legally issued, fully paid, and non-assessable.
I hereby consent to the reference to me in the above-mentioned Registration Statement and to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to said Registration Statement.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Janet L. Dhillon
Janet L. Dhillon
Executive Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary
