Semi on/off topic - Walmart

[Panther]

Now that the J band is hooked up with Wally World, it makes me wonder when I read stories like this one. I've heard stories over the years about Wally World and some of their business practices, but I do believe this is the worst yet. I understand "fine print" and all that jazz, but what the hell ever happened to ethics in business?

http://news.aol.com/story/_a/wal-mart-sues-disabled-ex-employee/20080329083609990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

"Shank suffered severe brain damage after a traffic accident nearly eight years ago that robbed her of much of her short-term memory and left her in a wheelchair and living in a nursing home.

It was the beginning of a series of battles -- both personal and legal -- that loomed for Shank and her family. One of their biggest was with Wal-Mart's health plan.

Eight years ago, Shank was stocking shelves for the retail giant and signed up for Wal-Mart's health and benefits plan.

Two years after the accident, Shank and her husband, Jim, were awarded about $1 million in a lawsuit against the trucking company involved in the crash. After legal fees were paid, $417,000 was placed in a trust to pay for Debbie Shank's long-term care.

Wal-Mart had paid out about $470,000 for Shank's medical expenses and later sued for the same amount. However, the court ruled it can only recoup what is left in the family's trust.

The Shanks didn't notice in the fine print of Wal-Mart's health plan policy that the company has the right to recoup medical expenses if an employee collects damages in a lawsuit."

[Rick]

Now that the J band is hooked up with Wally World, it makes me wonder when I read stories like this one. I've heard stories over the years about Wally World and some of their business practices, but I do believe this is the worst yet. I understand "fine print" and all that jazz, but what the hell ever happened to ethics in business?

http://news.aol.com/story/_a/wal-mart-sues-disabled-ex-employee/20080329083609990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

"Shank suffered severe brain damage after a traffic accident nearly eight years ago that robbed her of much of her short-term memory and left her in a wheelchair and living in a nursing home.

It was the beginning of a series of battles -- both personal and legal -- that loomed for Shank and her family. One of their biggest was with Wal-Mart's health plan.

Eight years ago, Shank was stocking shelves for the retail giant and signed up for Wal-Mart's health and benefits plan.

Two years after the accident, Shank and her husband, Jim, were awarded about $1 million in a lawsuit against the trucking company involved in the crash. After legal fees were paid, $417,000 was placed in a trust to pay for Debbie Shank's long-term care.

Wal-Mart had paid out about $470,000 for Shank's medical expenses and later sued for the same amount. However, the court ruled it can only recoup what is left in the family's trust.

The Shanks didn't notice in the fine print of Wal-Mart's health plan policy that the company has the right to recoup medical expenses if an employee collects damages in a lawsuit."

I saw that on the news today. I HOPE that furor over their fine print will change their practices. Why a multi billion dollar corp like them needs to recoup medical expenses is beyond me. They go through that much restriping a couple of parking lots. That's just big business though, always screwing the employees.

[Arkansas]

Wal-Mart has dropped this effort. Thanks God.

http://arkansasbusiness.com/article.asp ... 020.116283


later~

[frfksakes]

Wal-Mart has dropped this effort. Thanks God.

http://arkansasbusiness.com/article.asp ... 020.116283


later~

Great news, but I can't believe they even started this. At least the were shamed into coming to their senses.

I wonder how much their legal fees are, lol

[wednesday's child]

Trying to "recoup" cents, while pissing away millions...
That's what happens when you have bean counters directly in charge of legal,
and speculators in charge of shaping the annual budget.

[Hollywood]

This whole ordeal was unfortunate for both parties.

For a minute though let's look at this from Wal-Mart's perspective. Because of the nature of the accident and someone else clearly being at fault in the accident Wal-Mart's health plan, or any other normal health plan, was not obligated to pay one claim for this person. Those medical costs would be recouped in a lawsuit and the at fault party would pay the medical bills. However this person was in dire need and the health plan stepped up and helped this family get the care as soon as it was needed. Again they were under no obligation to cover any of these bills. If the family did not recover any funds in the suit, Wal-Mart would have been out the money, so they were taking a risk by helping this family. Ghe other party may not have had any money or insurance or claimed bankruptcy. Wal-Mart took the risk to help the family and this should be conveyed in all of these media stories and it's unfortunate that it wasn't.

In the end Wal-Mart did make an awful mistake by trying to recoup the cost from this family as they would have no way to live in her condition without this money. Wal-Mart should have seen it as a charitible thing to do for an employee and left it alone. Unfortunately, like every other big business they run like a machine and very rarely value the real assets they have in good employees.