Jdimytai Damour’s death cost Walmart $7,000. Walmart won’t pay.
Jdimytai Damour was the poor security guard who got trampled on Black Friday a couple of years ago. Walmart was fined S7,000 for the incident. That’s outrageous. The fine should have been much higher on principle.
Nevertheless, Walmart won’t pay. Take it away NYT:
Wal-Mart officials worry that if the OSHA [Occupational Safety and Health Administration] Review Commission upholds the $7,000 penalty and concludes that surging crowds are an occupational hazard, then OSHA will then be free to look over Wal-Mart’s shoulder whenever it has a big sale to make sure that it has taken adequate steps to control crowds.
So Walmart wants the government to trust them about the health and safety of its employees and its customers despite repeated Black Friday incidents over the years that resulted in injuries. Why does that strike me as a bad idea?
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Walmart is not your friend. Walmart only looks out for Walmart.
How much do the individuals who tramped another living person have to pay and how much have they paid so far?
Whoever started the riot should have been charged in criminal court. As it’s Walmart’s responsibility to protect the safety of its employees inside the store, they should pay.
Granted, your point reminds me that we haven’t heard word one about the Damour family’s inevitable lawsuit which will hopefully net a settlement of much larger than $7000.