Wal-Mart.we're greedy, we suck and there's nothing you can do about it

[walldude]

Deborah Shank.. First she gets brain damage in a car wreck. Then she gets a whole $400,000 for her trouble, then Wal-Mart, her "employer" (more like "owner") sues her to get back the insurance money they had to pay for her medical expenses. They lose, and appeal all the way to the U.S. Supreme court who in their infinite wisdom sides with Wal-Mart, cause they might miss that four hundred grand. So now Wal-Mart and The U.S. Government have screwed this lady financially for the rest of her life. Is that enough? Nope. Might as well take her son in a useless, pointless, war too... :mad:



http://www.crooksandliars.com/2008/03/25/wal-mart-sues-scotus-screws-brain-damaged-woman/

[napi21]

1. I agree that's obscene greed, but.....I've heard that is a std.

practice for insurance companies to do. Since WM is a self insured co. my guess is they were just following the std.

I lay the fault at the feet of Deborah's lawyer who won the case for her in court. He/she SHOULD HAVE KNOWN that would happen and should have written the complaint with that in mind.

[walldude]

2. It's also std practice for an insurance company

to deny care prescribed by a doctor. That doesn't make it right. And Wal-Mart could have just let it go when they lost the goddamn case, it's not like they need the money. The insurance companies, Wal-Mart, and the Supreme court can go fuck themselves. And so can the Stockholders who demand so much profit that they are willing to make money off of other peoples misery.

[rocktivity]

3. Furthermore, that money was meant for her future care

it's not as though she moved to Riveria. She's penniless now. How is she supposed to survive?

:mad:
rocknation

[China_cat]

4. That's why we all need to buy Wal-Mart stock.

Before you slam me, please read what I have to say.

Wal-Mart officials always try to lay their greed at the feet of 'stockholders'. If enough of us who oppose this buy stock...even ONE share...they have to allow us into stockholders meetings where we could then stand up and say 'not THIS stockholder'. Tell them that profits are not even close to being 1/100th as important as the people who work for them, the people they trample on in the communities they invade.

By being 'stockholders' we'd have a much better chance of changing the way they work.

[walldude]

8. I don't buy any stocks.

Not into gambling or making money that I didn't earn. Plus I get watch people freaking out over the stock market on a daily basis without worrying about whether my money is "safe" or not.

[selador]

11. then you are crazy

the stock market is the single best wealth creation tool ever devised.

fwiw, i am a trader as well (i make substantial income trading), but i have also been a stalwart investor since i was 18.

my grandfather, who lived through the depression and knows well how volatile the stock market could be told me the best advice i ever got: every month, without fail, add to your portfolio. in up times, in down times. always.

the best piece of advice i ever got. he was an entirely self-made man, and an astounding individual.

people who freak out over the stock market are either overleveraged, underdiversified, or have psychological problems.

[walldude]

12. I have less money than most people

but I am wealthier than most too. You call that crazy, be my guest. When the people of this world stop measuring their wealth by how much money they have in the bank, it will be a much better place.

[selador]

15. whatever

i measure my wealth first and foremost by my family.

but i also am happy to have a solid nest egg and a diversified portfolio that WORKS for me.

when you reach the point where your money works for you, not the other way around, it's a good feeling.

fwiw, i started my investing with $50 a month. it does not take a lot. it takes discipline and patience.

[walldude]

18. "I measure my wealth first and foremost by my family."

Right. That's why you called me crazy. I have money I could invest. I choose not to. You say I'm nuts. I say I'm rich enough without having to make money off of someone else's back. . Sorry you feel like I insulted your profession.

[selador]

22. that's not my point

you are not making money off someone else's back, if you invest in stocks

you are participating in ownership of great companies, and giving them capital to grow.

for example, i bought Google at IPO. i invested in GOOGLE. i am not making money off somebody else's back. i am investing in a business, just like any other businessman who does so. those who put capital at risk and put it into businesses are the engines that grow our economy and grow wealth for people overall.

it's a GOOD thing.

if you want, only invest in companies that suit your political/environmental concerns. i certainly don't, but that's always an option too.

but it's anti-capitalist rhetoric (it's straight out of marx fwiw) to think that capital investment is making money off other's backs.

it's right up there with labor theory of value and other discredited anti-capitalist rubbish

[China_cat]

16. I'm not talking about buying it for making money.

I don't give a shit if it goes up or down. But even ONE lousy little stock allows me into those meetings that I'd otherwise be turned away from and GIVES ME A VOTE. So yes, one vote doesn't mean much. But what would 50,000 single votes (from 1 share of stock each) do? Hell, what would 10,000 or even 1000 do? It would send the message that not all stockholders approve of the way the company manages their business.

And if they go ahead over the disapproval of stockholders, then they can't lay the blame for their greed on those same stockholders.

The price today of that one share of stock is $52.12.

[islandmkl]

5. that's a standard....

my ass...let me write the standards for my industry, then....

the only standard involved is legal 'denial of claim'...
which the insurance industry typically uses...oh, about 90+% of the time on health issues, first time around....

many people do not re-file claims, because they think 'i guess i'm not covered for THAT...'

good odds for the insurance company...knock 3 or 4 o5 or more% right off the top....

sounds like Wal-Marts executive/accounting department is not keeping in touch with their p.r./marketing department...

probably too busy dealing with the Chinese...

[selador]

13. fwiw

i gotta give props to my insurance company then - pacificare.

they have covered everything - every hospital visit, procedure, etc. $5 copay for visits.

heck, an entire surgical procedure cost me $5.

they also cover ER visits (for any reasons) for $50 and refund the $50 if you are admitted.

they are a puzzling bureaucracy when you have a question, otoh.

and if you want coverage for "alternative" stuff like chiro or massage therapy, they are a pain.

but i have had GREAT experience with them. no problems whatsoever.

so, they don't all suck

[glowing]

6. Can we get really grassroots on this one and really stop buying at

Walmart.. I mean really.. They did not need that money.. and if they are the "community" store that they always tout on commercial ads.. they should have been leading the way in setting up a fund for this woman so her medical/ living costs would be taken care of. I think this story needs to find its way into everybody's e-mail box.. I think we can do this..

[havocmom]

7. Is that the woman whose son was killed in Iraq too?

Her memory is gone, so when she asks about her son, and is reminded he is dead, it is like she is hearing it for the first time... over and over and over.

One wonders if she is one of the Walmart employees the corporation also secretly bought a life insurance policy on so when she dies, they win again.

We are property to them. Cogs in a machine. They will squeeze the last penny of profit from us and toss us aside to die, thereby making money for them in death.

[walldude]

10. Yup same woman, one week after the Supreme Court

stole her settlement, her son died in Iraq. I have been through some hard times, but I can't even come close to imagining what this must be like for that family. It makes me sick.

[annabanana]

20. "hearing it for the first time... over and over and over."

Contemplating this brings me to tears each time. The woman is trapped in Hell.

[The_Casual_Observer]

9. Employees really get screwed by disability laws. You basicially have

no rights & get very little compensation if you are injured on the job.

It's a sad fact of life in this country.

[HockeyMom]

14. Out Products are Rejects

There is always something wrong with them, even with brand name stuff.

Is that how they get such cheap prices?

[jmowreader]

19. I'll tell you how they get such cheap prices

They buy direct from manufacturers and importers, and they dictate price to them.

They also minimize their operating expenses. You've probably noticed, should you ever have the need to go into one of those behemoths, that Wal-Mart stores' roofs are liberally festooned with skylights. They LOVE to brag about how the skylights make Wal-Mart stores so energy-efficient, green and all that. They do, but if those skylights didn't save Wal-Mart money on electricity they would not be there.

They also minimize the number of times they need to price-match in two ways. First, they read the paper looking for items Wal-Mart sells; if Target has a shirt for $9.97 and it's a shirt Wal-Mart also carries, Wal-Mart sets their price to $9.96. On big-ticket items, they like to have the manufacturer make a special Wal-Mart edition. Let's say Lexmark came out with a printer they call the PR-1000. Wal-Mart will go to Lexmark and tell 'em that if Lexmark were to package a CD of clip art with the printer and call it the PR-1000WM they'll buy two million printers. Let's see...a black plate change on the manual, a black plate change on the box and a $2 CD of clip art in exchange for a two-million-unit order? Of course you'd do it. But this lets Wal-Mart sell the machine without price-matching anyone since only Wal-Mart has the 1000WM special edition printer.

[havocmom]

21. they get a lot of concessions on local taxes too, pay off local pols, promise jobs

the jobs are cheap and so are the petty local pols who carry water for them.

Somebody here posted link about how they frequently get off with little land cost by getting local movers and shakers to buy the land then 'rent' it from them for very little. Don't recall how it worked, but somehow the surrounding land value goes up (probably as retail/restaurant space due to lots of traffic after WalMart comes in, so the investors make a killing there. They give Walmart extreme deals for the property the big box sits on.

Then there was the ploy of taking out life insurance on employees with themselves as beneficiaries.

They are fucking vampires.

[johnl235]

17. Wal-Mart.we're greedy, we suck and there's nothing you can do about it

and hillary was a board member

[B Calm]

23. Predatory Capitalism at it's finest moment..

Predatory Capitalism. . . Say it often and loud!

[Kitty Herder]

24. The Supreme Court sucks, too.

I wish we could impeach five of them.

[WillowTree]

25. There is a subrogation clause in virtually every insurance policy of any kind.

If someone loses control of his car and comes crashing through your living room wall, your homeowner's insurance may pay to make the repairs, but they'll go after the guy who was driving and anything you're able to collect from him (or his insurance) will first have to repay your insurance company. Same thing with your car insurance.

And it's the same principle in this situation, too. It's always been that way. People just don't read their policies because it's right there in writing. And this woman's attorney, who I'll guarantee you knew about subrogation clauses, should be sued to the teeth for malpractice for recommending that she (or her family, more likely) accept a settlement that didn't even cover the treatment she's already received, let alone her ongoing care and expenses.