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by jteamaz from Phoenix

Last Post 76 days, 4 hours Ago


Wal Mart - Worst in The World.....
Apr 1, 2008 | 3:46 PM
Category: News
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Last Wednesday, Keith Olbermann on MSNBC told the story of Debbie Shank, a 52 year old former Wal-Mart employee. It goes something like this: Mrs. Shank was broad-sided by a semi truck. She is severely brain damaged, in a wheel chair, in a rest home and requires 24 hour continuous care because of that accident. Her family sued the trucking company and won a $700,000 settlement. After attorney's fees she was left with $417,000 for a trust fund to pay for her extensive care. Wal Mart upon finding out of the settlement promptly sued Mrs. Shank for $470,000 to cover what their insurance plan had paid in medical expenses. Wal Mart claims that the health plain is "required to protect it's assets so that it can pay future claims of other associates and their family members." Wal Mart could have let it slide, and received $470,000 worth of positive publicity, including a catchy slogan of "we take care of our own." But they didn't, big money wins, and the Supreme Court won't even hear the case. Mrs. Shank is left with nothing. Bear in mind that Wal Mart made over 11,000,000,000 in profit last year. Yes, that's 11 Billion.....

Wal Mart has subsequently been named to the "Worst Persons" list. See the full video with comment at www.huffingtonpost.com

I think Wal Mart could have easily let this one go, anyone else care to weigh in on this one ??

No matter how much this corporation makes, it just doesn't seem to be enough.

That's not the icing on the cake....6 days after Wal Mart beat Mrs. Shank in court, her 18 year old son was killed in Iraq.

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Member Comments Total Comments: 17
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justold44 read my blog view my photos
Apr 2, 2008 | 10:26 AM

Just one more reason to NOT SHOP at Walmart!!!
TweetyNMe read my blog view my photos
Apr 2, 2008 | 10:48 AM

I'm curious about this attorney that collected six figures for his/her services. One would think that this attorney would have gone over that policy and fought for enough to cover not only his fees (which I'm sure came right off the top) but an additional amount to cover the insurance and the medical treatment and care this woman will need for the rest of her life.
phoenixJane read my blog
Apr 2, 2008 | 11:30 AM

When I read this story, I couldn't believe it. But it's all over the internet. From walmartwatch.com—"As is common for employer-sponsored health plans, Shank’s insurance required full repayment of medical expenses if she received money from a lawsuit."

It's worse. Walmart sued her for more than what she had left. Another $51 K had to come out of her pocket! How many of their employees have accidents this severe? Still, why didn't her attorney to advise her of her liability and make sure she received a proper settlement? Her family should file complaint against Attorney1 to the state board.

However, after petitions to boycott the company, today Walmart announced :
"Occasionally, others help us step back and look at a situation in a different way. This is one of those times," Wal-Mart Executive Vice President Pat Curran said in a letter. "We have all been moved by Ms. Shank's extraordinary situation."
"We wanted you to know that Wal-Mart will not seek any reimbursement for the money already spent on Ms. Shank's care, and we will work with you to ensure the remaining amounts in the trust can be used for her ongoing care," Curran said.
"We are sorry for any additional stress this uncertainty has placed on you and your family."
justold44 read my blog view my photos
Apr 2, 2008 | 11:44 AM

Makes you wonder who got to Curran?

I still won't shop there!!
jteamaz read my blog
Apr 2, 2008 | 11:49 AM

PJ, thanks for the update....but this also proves a point. It pays to make your voice heard. I'm sure the public outcry has been great, and Wal Mart certainly doesn't need any more bad publicity. I wonder how much is left in the trust though.
justold44, we don't shop at Wal Mart either, never have, never will. My dealings with them as an OTR Trucker years ago sealed it with me, they're unbelievable!!
phoenixJane read my blog
Apr 2, 2008 | 12:17 PM

jteamaz, you're right, it does pay to make your voice heard. That's why I bother to blog. It was angry bloggers and their petitions to boycott that got Walmart to listen. This new media almost put Ford out of business too. You get big and try to walk all over people, when will they learn? I stopped shopping there two summers ago after observing that many of their prices were the same as everywhere else if not higher. That's a long way to drive to save a dime.
nativephoenician read my blog
Apr 2, 2008 | 12:54 PM

Walmart is nothing but a canker sore on our society, all their products come out of China and we all know that it is poisonous crap. I read an article some where that 80% of walmarts products end up in landfills with in 1 yr after purchase. They treat their employee's like crap, pay them bottom dollar, their customer service sucks,and the Walmart family makes millions in bonuses each year. I have never shopped @Walmart and never will, the only thing I go there for is my bank which happen to have kiosks inside their stores.
nativephoenician read my blog
Apr 2, 2008 | 12:58 PM

I go there for my bank because they happen to have a Walmart in my neighborhood, its not like I go out of my to bank @Walmart stores, its just sometimes convenient.
jteamaz read my blog
Apr 2, 2008 | 2:36 PM

This is not what Sam Walton envisioned for his Company, I'm sure. The other message here is that we need to check with our insurance providers to see if the same thing could happen to us. I'm certainly going to call mine....if the same provisions are there as this woman I will be after our people to re-negotiate that!
justold44 read my blog view my photos
Apr 2, 2008 | 3:06 PM

I was going to walmart for the $4 perscriptions!! but now i see that walgreens is offering the same prices,
SO!!! NO MORE WALMART!!!
SarahAcevedoIsHot read my blog view my photos
Apr 3, 2008 | 2:36 AM

Target's prices are comparable, they are a much better corporate citizen, and their stores are 1000% cleaner. You don't feel like you need to be disinfected after shopping there like you do after being in any Walmart.
RDJVZ read my blog
Apr 3, 2008 | 10:51 AM

She should sue her attorney for malpractice. Any good lawyer knows that you sue over and above medical bills a company has endured. When he sat down with the Lawyer and Reps from Walmart they gave him a number and he ran with it. That's how these big lawsuits work. He is a worthless attorney. I blame the attorney more then I would blame Walmart.
Diabla02 read my blog
Apr 3, 2008 | 1:35 PM

justold44, let me know which Walgreens will give you the $4 perscription. Our Healthcare Company told us to try Walgreens for the Wal-Mart price and my Walgreens wouldn't hear none of it! They actually told me, "if you want the Wal-Mart price, then go to Wal-Mart!" GEEZ!
Z-BRA read my blog view my photos
Apr 4, 2008 | 10:44 AM

I don't shop at Wallmart anymore and haven't for awhile. In the past 4 years I've been there about five times, but not within the year and a half.

I stopped shopping there when all of my friends that worked for Wallmart quailified for food stamps, government health care, and they always lived in crapy crowded homes.

They made Rubbermaid go over sees...etc

WALLMART SUCKS
josieonnet read my blog view my photos
Apr 4, 2008 | 12:28 PM

WE only shop at wallmart if..............
its something I don't won't to keep
returning stuff is LEGAL!
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jteamaz

Not much to say actually. Just a normal kinda guy. I drive a truck delivering groceries for a major food chain here in the valley. Try to keep educated on local and national events especially those concerning corruption and moral ineptitude by our "elected officials." Very much for protecting our freedoms and rights, always open to new ideas and discussions. I don't identify as Democrat or Republican, and don't like to be labeled as liberal or conservative. Just try to stay responsible and informed as possible.

Member Since: 4/18/2007


 

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