He fell while buying a watermelon; now Walmart must pay millions
He was buying a watermelon at Walmart when he fell. Now a jury in Alabama has awarded him more than $7 million.
Henry Walker, a retired Army sergeant, got his foot caught in a wooden pallet as he was getting the watermelon at the Walmart store in Phenix City in July 2015, the Columbus Ledger-Enquirer reported.
Walker fell and broke his foot and hip. The jury awarded him $2.5 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages.
“It was a fair verdict because Walmart just didn’t care,” said Charlie Gower, the lead attorney for Walker. “They should have had something to cover up that pallet so someone’s foot couldn’t get caught in it, and they didn’t.”
Walmart is expected to appeal the decision.
Stan Finger: 316-268-6437, @StanFinger
This story was originally published November 8, 2017 at 9:21 PM with the headline "He fell while buying a watermelon; now Walmart must pay millions."