Up Against The Wal

Once again Wal~Mart makes the news. One would think that a Company presenting its shareholders with a quarterly profit of almost $3 billion (that’s with a B) would want to maintain a low profile in the arena of public relations. Perhaps preserve an image of humility and just keep racking in the cash.

The world’s largest retailer has had its share of P.R.oblems in the past. Accounts of locking employees in the store overnight and not paying forced overtime have been dismissed with an insincere apology and a wave of the hand. Then there was a wave of sexual discrimination allegations. Illegal immigrants flourishing mop and bucket to sanitize the floors for the next day shoppers. Then again, maybe the predecessors of Mr. Walton have found the way to fill the corporate coffers much to the chagrin of the founding father.

But the behemoth has found a new puddle of mud to Wally in. In a demonstration of “shock and awe”, the Bozo’s of Bentonville have decided that it would be in the best interests of all concerned to bring a lawsuit against a former employee for reimbursement of medical benefits paid. Seems that the former employee had the misfortune of being involved in an auto accident that left her brain damaged. The former employee received an insurance settlement of $900,000 to resolve the matter. The corporate attorneys are looking to recoup over half of that to amount to include their fees and in addition, I repeat, in addition, a portion of the fees paid by the former employee to her attorney for services rendered in reaching the insurance settlement. Faced with future care and expenses which will more than likely extend throughout her life, the former employee can only rely on Medicaid to foot the bill. In other words. We, the taxpayer, foot the bill.

I am not advocating that one should drink from the same trough twice. Insurance carriers and the self insured may well be within their rights to seek reimbursement for claims paid when a hefty settlement comes to fruition. My problem is with the case which Wal~Mart picked to flex it’s muscles. The company flaunts its supposed compassion for employees and family in the TV ads. How the company cares for its own. If ever a case called for consideration and concern, this is the one. This time Goliath gets the upper hand.

I know that the few meager bucks I spend is inconsequential to the bottom line, but you’ll never catch me spending another cent in a Wal~Mart.