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Wal-Mart spends millions to fight $7K fine

by TLTheLiberator
18 replies
  • OFF TOPIC
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The $7,000 fine from OSHA was for the trampling death of a Wal-Mart employee , crushed by a surging mob of customers outside a Long Island Wal-Mart the day after Thanksgiving, 2008.

The company claims it's acting on principle...

Here's the short story if you're interested...

Wal-Mart spends millions to fight $7K fine
  • Profile picture of the author sarafina
    I'm sure they are doing it because paying that fine perhaps is an admission of guilt and would open up the floodgates for a potential civil suit from the victim which would probably cost A LOT of millions.

    This is just my educated guess.
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    That is RIDICULOUS! OSHA is claiming they should just pay the fine because it APPEARS cheaper? How many employees do they have? If a customer comes in with a creless kid, that throws a pencil at a greeter, and he loses an eye, should they pay OSHA for THAT ALSO!?!?!?

    If ANYONE should be paid, it should be the EMPLOYEE's heirs! That $2Million would have been a nice settlement. And the customers should be fined/sued, and thrown in jail, because they were guilty of negligent homocide, trespassing(B & E to get into even a PUBLIC place is, by definition, TRESPASS!), and breaking and entering!

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
    Walmart, according to Federal officials reached by the NYT, has been steadfast in fighting the federal fine,...



    ... despite reaching a settlement in 2009 with Nassau County prosecutors in which it agreed to improve safety measures,...



    ... offer large charitable donations and create $400,000 fund to help customers injured at the store.

    As a part of the settlement, Nassau County prosecutors agreed to suspend its criminal investigation into the incident and Walmart admitted no wrongdoing, ABC 7 reported.

    Of the settlement, county District Attorney Kathleen Rice said:

    "No prosecution could have achieved what we have been able to do with this agreement.

    Rather than bringing the world's largest retailer to court and imposing a small fine against them, I felt it was important to require significant safety changes that will affect the whole state.

    We are able to get expedient compensation for these victims and also get jobs for our community and more than a million dollars in funding for crucial social service programs that will help our local economy and our youth."
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    "It's easier to fool people than to convince them that they have been fooled. -- Mark Twain

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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by TLTheLiberator View Post

      Walmart, according to Federal officials reached by the NYT, has been steadfast in fighting the federal fine,...



      ... despite reaching a settlement in 2009 with Nassau County prosecutors in which it agreed to improve safety measures,...
      OK, GOTTCHA! Close down the store, so customers won't be encouraged to B/E, trespass and kill!



      ... offer large charitable donations and create $400,000 fund to help customers injured at the store.
      EVEN the ones that helped commit the murder? OBSCENE!

      As a part of the settlement, Nassau County prosecutors agreed to suspend its criminal investigation into the incident and Walmart admitted no wrongdoing, ABC 7 reported.
      OK, walkmart DIDN'T do anything wrong, what's the point?

      Of the settlement, county District Attorney Kathleen Rice said:

      "No prosecution could have achieved what we have been able to do with this agreement.
      Well, they could have charged the murderers, etc...

      Rather than bringing the world's largest retailer to court and imposing a small fine against them, I felt it was important to require significant safety changes that will affect the whole state.

      We are able to get expedient compensation for these victims and also get jobs for our community and more than a million dollars in funding for crucial social service programs that will help our local economy and our youth."
      Yeah, charge the innocent, let the guilty go, and have business AS USUAL! Gee, maybe walmart should leave the state INSTEAD!

      Jul. 6, 2010 (United Press International) -- Federal officials say Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) Stores has spent millions to contest a $7,000 fine over the death of an employee, killed by a crowd at a New York store.
      ...
      Jdimytai Damour, a temporary employee, was trampled when a crowd of about 5,000 people broke down the doors at a store on Long Island the day after Thanksgiving 2008.
      OK, GOTCHA! 5000 people BROKE down a door AND ENTERED the store, and KILLED an employee. The employer somehow is at fault.

      GIVE ME A BREAK! The insurance should pay for the problem, and sue the customers. What? They couldn't wait a few minutes and WALK!?!?!?

      Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author seasoned
    BTW walmart is BIG, they probably have attorneys ON RETAINER, or even EMPLOYED!

    Steve
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    • Profile picture of the author Kenster
      Originally Posted by TLTheLiberator View Post

      The $7,000 fine from OSHA was for the trampling death of a Wal-Mart employee , crushed by a surging mob of customers outside a Long Island Wal-Mart the day after Thanksgiving, 2008.

      The company claims it's acting on principle...

      Here's the short story if you're interested...

      Wal-Mart spends millions to fight $7K fine


      Trust me, a public company like Wal Mart wont act on principle. Behind the wish wash its about money. They could say what they want but at the end of the day, its about spending more money now to save more money in the future. Its the way it is.


      Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

      BTW walmart is BIG, they probably have attorneys ON RETAINER, or even EMPLOYED!

      Steve


      They will have both a corporate legal team and more "specialty lawyers" on retainer.
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      • Profile picture of the author seasoned
        Originally Posted by Kenster View Post

        They will have both a corporate legal team and more "specialty lawyers" on retainer.
        I meant regarding this. Obviously, they have contract and R/E guys employed.

        Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author Barry Unruh
    I'll agree with Kenster. It has nothing to do with this event, but with the precedent it would set. By admitting guilt in this case by agreeing to pay, they would become a much larger target in the future to OSHA, attorneys, and to other government income seizing rackets...oh, I mean consumer advocate departments.
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  • Profile picture of the author KenThompson
    Slightly off topic, but I saw an interesting stat the other day. One of the
    Walmart owners, family, made more last year in one hour than the average
    Walmart employee makes in a year.

    I'm not suggesting it's wrong, but for some reason it's an amazing stat.
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    • Profile picture of the author TLTheLiberator
      Originally Posted by KenThompson View Post

      Slightly off topic, but I saw an interesting stat the other day. One of the
      Walmart owners, family, made more last year in one hour than the average
      Walmart employee makes in a year.

      I'm not suggesting it's wrong, but for some reason it's an amazing stat.
      It is an amazing stat.

      I'm not sure but I heard that Walmart has a lot of part time workers.
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  • Profile picture of the author garyv
    The Walmart that Sam Walton started is no where near the Walmart that is in existence today. Sam Walton actually made an effort to buy American made products. The WaMart of today is just like china. They'll manufacture all of their stuff in China, and then rent an American to put in the front window.

    I love free enterprise, but WalMart has perverted it. They may be one of the largest employers in the Country, but they're probably single-handedly responsible for more displaced jobs in our Country than any other single entity including our own Congress. And they're probably responsible for more slave labor than any single entity as well.
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    • Profile picture of the author Lawrh
      Originally Posted by garyv View Post

      They may be one of the largest employers in the Country
      Wal Mart is the largest private employer in the entire world. 1.6 million on staff.

      In fact, Wal Mart is the largest company in the world. Bigger than Shell or Exxon.


      Global 500 2010: Annual ranking of the world's biggest companies from Fortune Magazine.
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      • Profile picture of the author garyv
        Originally Posted by Lawrh View Post

        Wal Mart is the largest private employer in the entire world. 1.6 million on staff.

        In fact, Wal Mart is the largest company in the world. Bigger than Shell or Exxon.


        Global 500 2010: Annual ranking of the world's biggest companies from Fortune Magazine.
        I don't doubt it, but they're all low paying jobs. And they're responsible for a large - and I mean a behemoth - amount of work leaving the United States and being given over to laborers in China. Where the lack of labor laws make it virtually impossible for any "civilized" Country to even compete.

        99 times out of 100 you could walk into any Walmart in the Country, right up to the old greeter that meets you when you walk in. And if you talk to him/her you'll find out that 99% of them had higher paying jobs that they were laid off from. And many of them worked in plants that made products that Walmart sells. But those products now have the words "made in china" printed on the bottom of them.
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    • Profile picture of the author seasoned
      Originally Posted by garyv View Post

      The Walmart that Sam Walton started is no where near the Walmart that is in existence today. Sam Walton actually made an effort to buy American made products. The WaMart of today is just like china. They'll manufacture all of their stuff in China, and then rent an American to put in the front window.

      I love free enterprise, but WalMart has perverted it. They may be one of the largest employers in the Country, but they're probably single-handedly responsible for more displaced jobs in our Country than any other single entity including our own Congress. And they're probably responsible for more slave labor than any single entity as well.
      Well, walton didn't die until 18 years ago, and wikipedia says he had 1,960 walmart stores then. Are you SURE he made it a point to buy American!?!?!?

      And "our own congress" did a LOT to facilitate things like walmart, and displace MANY other jobs. I was just in a medium size meeting approx 90% were INDIAN!

      MAN, LARGEST COMPANIES....

      Wal-Mart Stores CHEAP RETAIL TO THE MASSES AT ALL COSTS!
      Royal Dutch Shell OIL DUTCH
      Exxon Mobil OIL AMERICAN
      BP OIL BRITISH
      Toyota Motor CAR COMPANY FIRST SELLING AT LOW COST
      JAPAN POST HOLDINGS OLD STYLE POSTOFFICE SERVICES JAPAN
      Sinopec OIL CHINA
      State Grid POWER CHINA
      AXA INSURANCE FRANCE
      China National Petroleum OIL CHINA

      CHINA=3
      US=2
      JAPAN=2
      BRITISH=1
      DUTCH=1
      FRANCE=1

      Only TWO provide manufacturing, or a service needed even 200 years ago, and BOTH are japanese.
      The US company is just CONSUMER SALES! The rest deal with the trappings of today, and FIVE, FIFTY PERCENT, are OIL related!

      Steve
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      • Profile picture of the author garyv
        Originally Posted by seasoned View Post

        Well, walton didn't die until 18 years ago, and wikipedia says he had 1,960 walmart stores then. Are you SURE he made it a point to buy American!?!?!?

        And "our own congress" did a LOT to facilitate things like walmart, and displace MANY other jobs. I was just in a medium size meeting approx 90% were INDIAN!

        Steve
        Oh I'm not defending congress' role in this. The China Free Trade Bill was one of the biggest scams ever pulled on the American people, and we're still paying for it.

        However, there's something called civility and ethics that all businesses should have. Walmart outsourced all of this work to china, knowing full well that the work being done there would be considered slave labor in the United States.
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  • Profile picture of the author KenThompson
    Someone recently told me a story about Walmart, and I tend to
    believe this person based on her academic and professional
    background. We were talking about Walmart.

    Anyway, she told how they did a lot of damage to Rubbermaid. And
    she went on to explain the typical process that WM imposes on
    businesses.

    Apparently, they take you into a room, sit you down, and explain that
    they want to sell your products in their stores - at this price, and here's
    what your profit will be. Take it or leave it.

    Naturally, WM's profit margin for your business would not be the profit
    margin you, as the business owner, would accept.

    Yes, Gary, I agree that there should be some level of civility in business,
    but I tend to feel we're in the minority on that one.
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    • Profile picture of the author garyv
      Originally Posted by KenThompson View Post

      Someone recently told me a story about Walmart, and I tend to
      believe this person based on her academic and professional
      background. We were talking about Walmart.

      Anyway, she told how they did a lot of damage to Rubbermaid. And
      she went on to explain the typical process that WM imposes on
      businesses.

      Apparently, they take you into a room, sit you down, and explain that
      they want to sell your products in their stores - at this price, and here's
      what your profit will be. Take it or leave it.

      Naturally, WM's profit margin for your business would not be the profit
      margin you, as the business owner, would accept.
      Yes that's exactly right. And businesses had no choice but to buy from China or go out of business. Because there's no way you could hire some one to build the products as cheap as they do in China, because it would be against the law here.
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      • Profile picture of the author The 13th Warrior
        Wal-Mart OWNS.

        Almost every lawsuit that in media was reported "won" against a big corporation, you find out later, which is usually "unreported", on how the actual money that was to be paid was sliced down, down , downward after appeals and years of appeals until the money paid out, if paid at all, was negligible.

        With their bucks and ties, they own any official or his boss or enforcement agency, case closed.

        The 13th Warrior
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