Jury awards nearly $17 million to woman injured at Walmart

The verdict was issued Monday.

FILE - In an Aug. 26, 2016, file photo, people walk in and out of a Walmart store, in Dallas. Walmart announced new moves Monday, Oct. 9, 2017, to speed up the return process for online purchases, including letting some shoppers keep the stuff they don’t want and still get a refund. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez, File) Tony Gutierrez / AP, File

By Associated Press

March 5, 2019

1 minute to read

PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (AP) — A jury in West Virginia has returned a nearly $17 million verdict against Walmart after a woman was injured when staffers tried to detain a shoplifter.

Jurors in Wood County, West Virginia, issued the verdict Monday.

A lawyer for 53-year-old Diane Ankrom says employees tried to detain the shoplifter when he ran into her shopping cart, sending her to the ground with the cart falling on top of her. The lawyers say she suffered internal injuries to her intestines that required surgeries.

Her attorney says the shoplifter had tried to steal gloves but had already returned them when staffers tried to catch him.

A Walmart spokesman says they are sympathetic to Ankrom’s injuries but believe the shoplifter is responsible. He says they are evaluating post-trial options.