Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
PLATTSMOUTH, Neb. — So that’s why we end up with so many plastic bags after grocery shopping! Lawsuits like this:
Walmart and the maker of its plastic bags are being sued by the widower of a woman who died after a Walmart cashier overfilled her grocery bag, according to Nebraska’s Lincoln Journal Star.
William Freis said in April 2010, his wife, Lynette, bought two 46-ounce cans and a two-pound bag of rice at Walmart. The casher put it all in one bag. As Lynette was on her way to her car, the bag broke.
One of the cans landed on her foot, broke a toe and cut her foot. The wound became infected, but despite antibiotics and two surgeries, infection spread through Lynette’s body and she died.
Walmart, the wrongful death lawsuit claims, was negligent because the company didn’t train its employees on how to bag properly. Had the groceries been put in separate bags or double-bagged, the accident would not have happened, the lawsuit claims.
The lawsuit seeks $656,000 in medical expenses plus an unspecified amount for her pain and suffering as well as funeral and burial expenses.
Neither Wal-Mart, plastic bag manufacturer Hilex Poly Co. or the distributor of the bags, Bunzl Distribution, has filed an answer to the allegations yet, the paper said.
Wal-Mart spokesman Randy Hargrove said in a comment to the paper that the company is investigating the allegations and will respond in court.
“Customer safety is a top priority, and we take it seriously any time an injury is reported in one of our stores,” he said.
Another reason to bring your own recyclable grocery bags.
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