Walmart lawsuit follows paper towel dispenser slip

11th of March 2016
Walmart lawsuit follows paper towel dispenser slip

An empty paper towel dispenser in a Walmart toilet could prove expensive for the retail giant following a $990,000 (€903,000) lawsuit filed by a customer.

After washing his hands at the washroom of an Oregon branch of Walmart, Robert Hill found the nearby paper towel dispenser to be empty. He then crossed to a second dispenser in search of a towel and slipped on a "very wet" patch of floor in the process.

Hill managed to drive home but was later diagnosed with a dislocated shoulder and torn tendons, according to the lawsuit.

Since the incident occurred two years ago Hill has undergone eight operations in an attempt to repair the damage. But he claims to have still not fully recovered and has had to retire early. He seeks a total of $990,000 in past economic damages; future economic damages; lost wages. pain, suffering, inconvenience and his inability to take part in his usual daily activities.

Walmart is the world's biggest company by revenue and the largest private employer globally with 2.2 million workers. It has more than 11,000 stores across the globe.

However, this is not the first time its washrooms have been the subject of controversy.

Three people in three consecutive years had to be rescued by emergency response teams after becoming glued to Walmart toilet seats. The incidents occurred in Maryland, Ohio and Kentucky between 2011 and 2013 and managers of the stores concerned declined to comment about any of the cases.

 

 

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