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Walmart verdict overview:
- Who: Walmart was hit with a $4.4 million jury verdict for allegedly racially profiling a customer.
- Why: The jury found Walmart liable for continuing to employ a loss prevention employee with a reputation for making false police reports.
- Where: The Walmart racial profiling lawsuit was filed in Oregon circuit court.
Walmart Inc. is faced with a $4.4 million verdict for allegedly racially profiling and calling the police on a customer, according to Aug. 19 court documents.
The Walmart lawsuit, which was filed in December 2021, alleged that Walmart customer Michael Mangum, who is African American, was shopping for a light bulb when loss prevention employee Joe Williams racially profiled him.
Mangum says Williams ordered him to leave the store over his objections that he had done nothing wrong, then called the police to report that he “had a person refusing to leave.”
Williams allegedly told the non-emergency dispatch operator that Mangum “started flipping out on me” when he walked by. Police arrived at the Walmart but declined to take action against Mangum, partially because Williams had a reputation for making false reports about shoppers, according to the lawsuit.
Walmart discrimination lawsuit says retailer knew of employees’ reputation for making false reports
The Walmart discrimination lawsuit states that Walmart was aware that Williams had previously provided false information about customers to police.
A 2019 Oregon law (ORS 30.845) allows individuals to seek civil damages against employees who, acting within the scope of their employment, cause police officers to arrive with the intent to unlawfully discriminate against the individual, violate their constitutional rights, cause them to feel harassed or humiliated, cause them to be expelled from a place where they are lawfully located or damage their reputation or standing in the community.
Because Williams was allegedly known to provide false information to police, Walmart was aware that he was likely to engage in conduct that would violate this law, Mangum argued.
He says that, due to the discrimination he experienced, he continues to suffer from embarrassment, fear and humiliation.
The Walmart discrimination lawsuit asserted claims for violations of ORS 30.845, negligent supervision or retention and discrimination. Mangum sought $4 million in punitive damages from Walmart, plus $400,000 in noneconomic damages.
Friday’s Walmart verdict grants the maximum $4.4 million Mangum sought.
Walmart has already faced numerous class action lawsuits this year, including a shelf pricing class action lawsuit that accuses the retailer of misrepresenting the price customers will actually have to pay at checkout.
What do you think about the Walmart verdict? Join the discussion in the comments!
Mangum is represented by Gregory Kafoury, Jason Kafoury, and Mark McDougal of Kafoury & McDougal.
The Walmart discrimination lawsuit is Michael Mangum v. Walmart Inc., et al., Case No. 20cv18273, in the Circuit Court of the State of Oregon, County of Multnomah.
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23 thoughts onWalmart to pay $4M in consumer discrimination lawsuit
I am sick and tired of being asked to show my receipt for the items I purchased. This is one particular store. I also shop in Walmart stores in the area. This is the only store in area that asks for the receipts. To me this is profiling. By the way, I am a white retired male. From now on, I am going to refuse to even stop. Let them call security and the cops. Next stop will be a lawyer.
I had an incident where I wanted to return a few items which I had in a reusable bag and since there return desk was closed and it was cold out I didn’t return to the car so I went along with the shopping I had to do I was using the Walmart plus app to scan all my items and bag them as I went thru the store I had just downloaded the app to price check a few items and signed up for the free trial was my first time using this feature, well my phone had 1% and I was about to check out so my husband gave me his phone which was logged on to the same Walmart accout on the app I scanned 2 more items and went to the check out scanned the QR code and since my debit card was linked to the Walmart account I didn’t have to swipe it so I walked out and halfway to my car this lady comes up to me and asks for my receipt I looked at her oddly bc I had no idea why this stranger wanted my receipt as I am pulling it up on my phone that’s when she pulled the cart from my hand and I realized at that point she obviously thinks I stole something which I know I scanned every item bc I did it as I went thru the store she said the receipt was missing items so I told her well I need to get my husband he’s got more money as I am walking up to my car she was behind me then I get to the car to explain the situation to him and she just calls the cops and says they’re running and at the point I am totally confused and frustrated that this women did not introduce herself as Walmart employee she could have been anyone she was in regular clothes , so she not only took the items I had just paid for but also the ones I was trying to return which I did too have a receipt for. Later on after I did some digging into the whole event I discovered that after my phone died and I got on the app on my husbands phone even tho all the items I had already scanned came up in the cart for some reason when I checked out the only items I paid for we’re the last few things I had scanned. I did not intentionally steal I was using the app correctly not sure where the transfer of items got lost but being in a hurry I didn’t even notice. After we got the report of her account of that evening she starts off by saying that due to me walking in with items to return receipt in hand and not being able to that’s when she went back to the cameras and started watching me go thru the store she mentions I was using the app scanning items and putting them in bags bc that’s literally what the app tells you to do is bring your own bags and scan and bag each item as you go around the store, so is that discrimination bc it’s like at what point was I doing something wrong? I gave her no reason to think that even after I’m like this lady is crazy I need my husband I don’t know what’s going on but thinking in my head if I did somehow miss an item ill just pay for it no big deal but he’s got my wallet and everything bc he took my phone to the car to charge. I just feel like it was totally unethical for her to watch my on the cameras when I did nothing wrong. Especially considering she startes I saw her scan each item on the app like it’s not my fault I was not able to return the items bc they were short staffed and in all honesty I did get loud about that when I had first walked in bc I was pissed that once again Walmart just fails at anything/everything. But I had my receipt for those items too so I don’t see where i went wrong besides the fact that I even bothered to shop at Walmart in the first place!
I was harassed begging of covid with the employee grabbing my battery causing extreme bruising, covid exposure, humiliating please add me. I have pictures ect
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Literally just got home from Walmart in Watkins Glen NY and had an issue with returning two $30 items ( car wash detergent- found a solution that works way better) and the (management) woman at customer service desk gave us $7 back for both of the jugs and a wireless mouse that was too big basically implying that the items were stolen and I was trying to rip her off!! This makes discrimination reason #6 I’m so fed up with this store I’m literally filing suit after this post because corporate won’t even email us back this happens so often it makes me sick!
My son and daughter was arrested for no reason. They claimed my daughter stole a box of diapers and they never walked out of the store. My son didn’t touch the box but they arrested him. My daughter just had a baby and asked my son to take her to Walmart to get things for the baby. She had a c-section and the baby was born before the due date so she need to get some items for her. I know she had plenty of money and didn’t need to steal a box of diapers. They called me upset they had them in a room, and my other grandchild, was afraid and crying. But it’s too much to put on here but I drove to Arkansas and ask my kids to give me all details. I told the police for every minute my son is in holding I will pay for every minute. They went to court and I asked the judge to have them to show a video of them walking out of the store. The judge did just that, my kids was what pharmacy and cosmetic when they approached them. Next court date Walmart showed up with a picture but my kids was nowhere near the door . My door as still shopping and going over to the atm machine to get money out to give to her brother. Judge said I asked for a video. Next court date no video and the judge tod my kids they were free to go. They were embarrass people were posting pictures of them being taken to the back and videos. They posted my son’s mugshot on social media.
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