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The family of a Walmart employee who died from complications of COVID-19 have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the company.
According to the lawsuit, Wando Evans told store managers that he had symptoms of the coronavirus but was ignored. The 51-year-old later passed away from the virus two days later.
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The family claims that the retailer knew about the Wando's symptoms and disregarded them, putting his life on the line.
In a statement, Walmart detailed safety measures it's taken and said it is, “heartbroken at the passing of two associates at our Evergreen Park store and we are mourning along with their families.”
Wando was a 15-year employee of the company; he worked as an overnight stock and maintenance associate at a store in Evergreen Park, near Chicago.
The lawsuit filed in Cook County states that the store sent him home from work on March 23. He was found dead in his home two days later. Wando's family claims that he wasn't the only employee at risk at the store; the suit claims that other employees showed signs of the virus, too, and one even died on March 29.
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The lawsuit alleges negligence because the store did not clean the store, enforce social distancing, notify employees about colleagues who were showing symptoms of the virus or provide gloves and masks.
The retailer said it deep-cleaned the store and had a third-party and a health department inspect it. They've also implemented other health measures such as adding sneeze guards at cash registers and using floor decals to indicate social distancing protocols in line.
“We take this issue seriously and will respond with the court once we have been served with the complaint,” it said.
More on this story as it develops!
