SocraticGadfly: Wal-Mart hits new low in hardheartedness

March 29, 2008

Wal-Mart hits new low in hardheartedness

Eight years ago, Debbie Shank was in a traffic accident that took away much of her memory. And here’s where Wally-World exceeds its previous reputation for evilness.

Suing a brain-damaged former employee for money back out of her health plan after she recovered money from a lawsuit against the trucking company that caused the accident is beyond dhe ordinary callousness.
Eight years ago, Shank was stocking shelves for the retail giant and signed up for Wal-Mart’s health and benefits plan.

Two years after the accident, Shank and her husband, Jim, were awarded about $1 million in a lawsuit against the trucking company involved in the crash. After legal fees were paid, $417,000 was placed in a trust to pay for Debbie Shank's long-term care.

Wal-Mart had paid out about $470,000 for Shank’s medical expenses, but in 2005, Wal-Mart’s health plan sued the Shanks for the same amount.

Yes, corporate rules allow it.

But, that doesn’t make it right.

And, the three-year delay makes it ginormously callous. That's the thing that stuck out the most:
The family's attorney, Maurice Graham, said he informed Wal-Mart about the settlement and believed the Shanks would be allowed to keep the money.

"We assumed after three years, they [Wal-Mart] had made a decision to let Debbie Shank use this money for what it was intended to," Graham said.

Wait! I am shocked!

Did Wally-World not sue for three years of interest as well? They must be falling down on the job.

Update: Keith Olbermann is now going after Wally-World on this. Video here, as it looks like Wally-World may shoot past Bill O’Lielly to the top of his Worst Person list.

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