Date: 01-17-1998

Case Style: Virginia Stringer, Reual Ed Angel, Donnie Brummett and Tina Sparks v. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., et al.

Case Number: 95-CI-00228

Judge: Eddie C. Lovelace

Court: Circuit Court, Clinton County, Kentucky

Plaintiff's Attorney: Larry Rogers, Monticello, Kentucky

Defendant's Attorney: Donna King Perry of Woodward, Hobson & Fulton, Louisville, Kentucky

Description: Defamation - Plaintiffs claimed that they were slandered by Wal-Mart 's store manager Anthony Whitaker who fired byem for eating cashews and breath mints from package that had been damaged in shipping. All were confronted by management with videotaped evidence them eating the nuts and candy in 1995. Wal-Mart claimed that plaintiffs violated its pilferage policy. Plaintiffs claimed that they were following an unwritten policy in which such food was left in lounges for employees and managers to consume. Plaintiffs also claimed that Wal-Mart invaded their right to privacy by illegally eavesdropping on their private conversations.

Outcome: Verdict for plaintiffs for $1 million each for slander, $1 million for embarrassment and mental anguish and $3 million each in punitive damages. Virginia Stringer was also awared $20,000 in lost wages.

Plaintiff's Experts: Unknown

Defendant's Experts: Unknown

Comments: The jury apparently found Wal-Mart had committed the tort of outrage by its conduct including escorting plaintiffs from the store, asking them to admit to stealting items, etc. Press releases indicated that Wal-Mart would probably appeal or otherwise attempt to overturn the verdict.