Wal-Mart fights federal fine after trampling death of employee

More than a year and a half after the death of an employee in a trampling event at one of its stores, Wal-Mart is fighting a fine assessed by OSHA (the Occupational Safety and Health Administration), intended in part to induce employers to create a safer work environment for employees.

Temporary employee Jdimytai Damour was crushed to death by a crowd of customers rushing into a Long Island Wal-Mart store the day after Thanksgiving in 2008.  In the aftermath of the tragedy, OSHA leveled a $7,000 fine against the company.  Although Wal-Mart reached a settlement with the Nassau County District Attorney requiring it to pay almost $2 million to establish community programs and compensate those injured in the 2008 incident, it has spent more than $2 million in legal fees to fight to OSHA violation fines.

The story was originally reported in today's New York Times.

Wal-Mart has previously been accused of failing to pay its employees appropriate wages under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

The law firm of Turkheimer & Hadden has handled a number of claims against Wal-Mart and has dealt extensively with the company charged with its risk management operations, Claims Management, Inc.  If you have a question out a claim against Wal-Mart of any kind, please contact John Hadden or Stefan Turkheimer at 404-890-7200.