Personal Injury Law

Wal-Mart pays $2M to avoid charges in death probe

On May 6, 2009, Wal-Mart agreed to pay nearly $2 million and improve safety at its 92 New York stores as part of a deal with prosecutors to avoid criminal charges in the trampling death of a temporary worker last year.  Jdimytai Damour, a maintenance worker, was trampled to death while working at the front of a Wal-Mart store on November 29, 2008--the morning after Thanksgiving.  Nassau County District Attorney Kathleen Rice said that if she had brought criminal charges against the retailer in the worker's death, the company would have been subject to only a $10,000 fine if convicted. 

Instead, Wal-Mart has agreed to implement an improved crowd-management plan for post Thanksgiving day sales; establish a $400,000 victim's compensation fund; and give $1.5 million to local non-profit groups.  

Wal-Mart stated that the new plan would focus on three areas: customer approach and entry into a store, customer flow through the store and around promotional merchandise and flow through checkout areas.

Full post as published by DC Metro Area Personal Injury Law Blog on May 16, 2009 (boomark / email).