JACKSON, Mo. — A collision with a semi-trailer truck seven years ago left 52-year-old Deborah Shank permanently brain-damaged and in a wheelchair. Her husband, Jim, and three sons found a small source of solace: a $700,000 accident settlement from the trucking company involved. After legal fees and other expenses, the remaining $417,000 was put in a special trust. It was to be used for Mrs. Shank’s care.
what a shame, but at least the money is in a trust and will be able to help her for the rest of her life.
Two years ago, the retail giant’s health plan sued the Shanks for the $470,000 it had spent on her medical care. A federal judge ruled last year in Wal-Mart’s favor, backed by an appeals-court decision in August. Now, her family has to rely on Medicaid and Mrs. Shank’s social-security payments to keep up her round-the-clock care.
AWESOME!
The reason is a clause in Wal-Mart’s health plan that Mrs. Shank didn’t notice when she started stocking shelves at a nearby store eight years ago. Like most company health plans, Wal-Mart’s reserves the right to recoup the medical expenses it paid for someone’s treatment if the person also collects damages in an injury suit.
They sure know how to treat their employees!
Let’s be honest though, it is her fault for working there. Her fault she didn’t save enough money, her husbands fault for not having a better job and ultimately her fault for not getting a better education to be working some where else..
I blame the Shanks, not wal mart. What’s a company to do that only has 4 of the richest people in the world on their pay rolls