Debbie Shank used to stock shelves at night for Wal-Mart so she could spend time in the afternoons with her three sons. Now she lives in a nursing home, requires around-the-clock medical care and owes Wal-Mart almost $500,000.
The story of the Shank family is heartbreaking in the sense that it could happen to anyone. Driving home one night, Debbie's car was hit by a tractor-trailier, leaving her brain-damaged and paralyzed. After collecting health insurance money for hospital bills (Debbie's policy with Wal-Mart paid for over $400,000 worth of emergency care), the Shanks sued the trucking company responsible for the accident, hoping to provide for Debbie's long term needs.
Now Wal-Mart has sued the Shanks, citing a line of fine print in Debbie's insurance policy that entitles the company to any lawsuit settlement. Wal-Mart intends to collect $470,000 from the Shanks, despite the fact that this will undoubtedly bankrupt Debbie's family.
A CNN interview with Jim Shank, Debbie's husband, gives some insight into how difficult the legal proceedings have been. Wal-Mart earned $100 billion in the final fiscal quarter end of 2007, meaning the company earned the disputed $470,000 in just 38 seconds. When confronted with a lifetime of medical bills and longterm care, Jim Shank was understandably disspirited.
"They are quite within their rights. But I just wonder if they need it that bad," he said.
Wal-Mart already has a reputation for treating its employees poorly, but for Wal-Mart to take Debbie Shank’s money shows that Wal-Mart and the Walton family are truly heartless.
Wal-Mart could take its legal victory and simply do the right thing and leave the Shank family and their money alone. Surely, even CEO Lee Scott himself would agree that the Shank family has suffered enough.

Actually it is your corrupt legal system that fails to compensate victims, and rewards judges and lawyers. In any other European country this would never occur, and contrary to what most of you too lazy to read clowns believe, yes Europeans do get compensated for their injuries.
$400,000 is far less than her case was worth, but by the time her puke lawyer got paid off by Walmart's trial lawyers under the table, and by the time the Walmart lawyers bribed the puke judge, they either settled or they would have gotten nothing. The lawyers all knew, as did the judge, that Walmart had to make a lean on this case, and become a co-complaintent, if only her lawyer would have sent them one letter requesting that they share the legal fees, expenses, and anything else ahead of time, so she knew all of the costs. This government of ours is very corrupt and hates working people.
My advice to you people is to quit finding each other guilty of anything in criminal cases, and make sure you never see in favor of insurance companies and companies the size of Walmart.
You have to do business with our corrupt government, but you do not have to with Walmart.
That nastey, fat-assed Hillary Clinton used to screw people like this when she was a lawyer for Walmart, and some of you are so stupid as to belive she is for the little guy. Actually, nothing stops her from giving us healthcare right now, so we would not have to even talk about this, and yet Hillary is too busy campaigning for herself and her own good, not ours.
Most political campaigns in Europe only last three weeks, because they actually do run their governments effectively and efficiently. Not find excuses to avoid running them.
it just so wrong how wal-mart does, they are pigs.yes i did work there my fiance did, and even her parents does.but still if people would shop at a diff store or apply at a diff store, to work.the people who need to lose there job at wal-mart should,meaning all the big shots that write that bull crap of rules they got. sorry but that how i fell atbout walmart.we the lilltle people should stand up against this crap that is wal-mart
well all the people that need there job at wal-mart need to apply at k-mart
Good plan people stop shopping at wal mart cause your right that will only hurt the exsecutive that make tons of money RIGHT!!!! What about the millions of people who will be out of a job, that are just getting by as it is! Are you going to give them yours???? also, wal mart isn't the worst person in this whole ordeal where is the anti-lawyer site???? HE SCREWED her and there is hardly a mention of him, I agree this is a bad situation and feel for her but when you get your wish and close all walmarts down i hope you have as much compasion for those you put out of work! The associates that will no longer have any income or insurance at all wow you people are soooo compasionate i bet you'll write a blog after you get your wish about how evil wal mart is for putting people out of work! Sorry it is just annoying to think of how many would suffer if wal mart went out of buisness and i garintee it won't be exsecutives!
I already hated Walmart, but this is freakin' ridiculous! It makes me sick that my parents brought our family to this country to see their grandchildren grow up in a Walmart Nation. We should have just stayed home. No Walmarts in Portugal so far...
I had no idea!!! After seeing this I am no longer going to shop at Wal-mart!!
F*CK YOU WALMART!!!!
Wal-Mart makes me sick! I will NEVER shop there again. I am telling everyone I know to stop shopping there as well. I hope they go out of business. This is horrid!
"Your neighborhood friend". The irony makes me ill. If the corporate hotshots were forced for one day to feel the agony this woman and her family deal with every moment of their lives, we'd see a whole different Wal*Mart within hours. This is a tragic but poignant example of how corperate America truly feels about the very people who sweat blood to keep executives' wallets full.
If you would like to support the Shanks, go to www.petitiononline.com and sign the petition.
This is probably one of the saddest things I've ever seen. Why doesn't Lee Scott step in and do something? All this BAD publicity is not helping Wal-Mart gain anything. They could have silently decided to pardon this family because of their extreme conditions, and no one ever would have known. But instead 5 years later they slap a lawsuit on this bruised family. And to make matters 1000X times worse, they lose their son in the war. It really doesn't get much worse than that. I'm glad God their judge and not me. I recently had my own run in with Wal-Mart. A week ago my mother tripped on a produce mat in one of the stores. They didn't call an ambulance, and they said they'd call her within 24 hours. She'll go into surgery tomorrow for her broken wrist, and we are still waiting for that call. Customer Satisfaction... Not Guaranteed.
I was stunned watching this video. Really Walmart? What ever happened to the thought of taking care of our own? Taking care of our family whether it is a blood relation, our neighbors, or people we work with. This is basic stuff here. This woman needs help - Let her have that help WalMart!!! Are you so insensitive that you would actually use an excuse as 'it wouldn't be fair to our other employee's' ? That's about the sickest manipulation I have heard of in a long time. And to think that there was a jury for this? What was wrong with those people? Do they not understand how much our country represents the third world countries when it comes to health care? If you don't believe me, go to just about any other country on the planet and see for yourselves what the differences are. We as a nation think that hospitals, doctors, medications, nurses, and rooms to hold the patients in, is nothing more than a business. There is no health Care. It's just health assistance to those that either have the money or can raise the money through charities. This is so sick to me.
The first comment I read after seeing this video was by a man that seems a little bit racist. The slang he used is offensive to me and hostile. This is about the woman in the nursing home and her family that is suffering. Let it be about that, and leave them alone if you aren't going to help them, and please save your name calling for another website. (Dems and Mexicans? Really? - what will you do next? punch the womans husband in the stomach?)
My wish is that this will be settled in the proper manner and that this family will be taken care of and then left alone by Wally World.
Nursing homes are overpriced, hospitals are overpriced, it's not even a joke that while you are in the hospital that it will cost several dollars for on Aspirin. That is robbery. What does a bottle of 24 pills cost at the local drug store? Add up the cost difference. Is that fair? I feel so sorry for this womans husband and children. I can't even imagine what grief they have gone through and now they are hit with such a rediculous excuse for a lawsuit. The wrong people are being punished here, and for what are they being punished?
Well, according to our SAT scores, that have had to be re-curved three times since 1980, with each time giving five free percentage points, it should be obvious that we are at least 15% dumber as a society than we were just 27 years ago.
So if you were Walmart, and had all of that money, you would test just how dumb jurors are for yourself, so that you could sell them some more social BS(dems play along with any social BS that fills their pocketbooks). The funny thing on this one is that if they try this case in Arkansas, the people are sooo freaken stupid that they will side with the largest employer in their state=Walmart.
This is geting to be how dumb we are ll over the country, so vote the judges and District Attorneys out that let cases like this go forward, or shut the freak up until you grow a pair. A pair of neurons that is.
Shut off your stupid phones and computers and think before we are full of dumb mexicans to sit on our juries.
Not only is Walmart preying on this family, but our legal system is as well. The family lost their appeal and are not taking it to the supreme court. I'll be surprised if they win.
And everyone who shops or works at Walmart is failing them too. Sadly, I don't look for any of this to change. Not enough people care, they may shake their heads and feel sincerely sorry for these people, but they will still shop at Walmart. I doubt that anyone will walk off the job for this family.
It's all about the bottom line, for Walmart and for John Q. Public. As with everything else as long as we allow them to "wag the dog" this type of uncaring acts will continue.
I for one will not go back to a Walmart. How about you?
I will no longer shop at Walmart....period!!!!!
Hey Allie,
Maybe Wal Mart doesn't care about students or mothers..but the students and single mothers care about them..they offer more pay per hour and flexible hours to work around tough schedules..I was sorry to see alot of mom and pop stores close..but in the area I live in a town we have casinos this town is 24hrs 7days..Only Wal Mart filled the needs of 24 hours..This is only a stepping stone (or I hope) so they can get better jobs after they get educated and move on to a better life...
I really can't tell you about Nationalized healthcare...I see how hard it is now to get test for patients that need them and meds..I don't know if the gov had a say how much harder it could be..I really don't know...
I don't belive it was a contract from Wal Mart...It should have been a contract from the Insurance company..Normally when you have an injury you claim is sent in to the ins. There is a diagnosis code ...if the code is an injury code of any kind the inurance co sends out a single sheet letter..It ask where did the accident happen..What happen..Was there anyone else at fault or that would assume finan respon..The very plainly it says...If you should receive a settlment you would pay back the insurance co...If you don't sign they normally don't pay a claim...They did pay and her husband said this was signed...I do work in insurance at a family prac..I see this all the time and I myself have signed this..Something else people don't understand if WAl Mart pd medical bills that were over 400,000...Then in real numbers because of contract write off the bills had to be over at least 500,000. to 600,000. That she would have owed at 100%. If she had no insurance are we wure she would have received the care she did get...I don't know...BUT I would pray so...
I totally agree about just poor people trying to get by...
Hey Debbie,
Walmart doesn't give a damn about college students or mothers.
It only gives a damn about profits.
Walmart does NOT offer real employment.
It comes into an area, and puts out of business places that would offer more, more decent, and better employment than walmart.
As for medical expenses, despite what the media says people say, It should be FREE. Nationalized healthcare is the way to go.
And btw, Walmart should not be having their employees sign contracts that basically screw them if anything happens to them. Show you how much they 'care' about their mothers and college students.
Btw, most of the people who work there are just poor, trying to pass by in this world.
I know this is not the popular comment...It is the truth.."EVERY" insurance company has a written request that has to be signed and it plainly states IF YOU GET REIMBURSED YOU WILL PAY BACK THE INSURANCE COMPANY... This is common..If you are not aware of this maybe this will educate others...The Lawyer should not have had such a big cut..Medical bills should have been paid then the lawyer and MRS Shank would divide..not as much money but..she would not be going into the negative...If you were the rich company would you think it right..You paid the medical bills in GOOD FAITH.. then your employee gets reimbursed for money you paid and doesn't pay it back...You would outraged...With this much medical also raises premiums..How many of you complain that you pay enough..This was design to help all people not just big business...If you think not shopping at Wal Mart is the answer just think about how many single mothers and college students you would be putting out of job or less hours...Your actions do speak but..what do you want them to say...If you want to make a difference send money to the bank acct on this web site..You pay the price because you care..That is how you make a difference...What a positive difference it would be....
hey jd
i guess we all can figure bout who signs your check!!!!!! yes the waldons do help someone
THEMSELVES HOW STUPID ARE YOU
If you would like to support the Shanks, go to www.petitiononline.com and sign the petition. I'm realistic and understand how major corporations work. I understand that Walmart has every right to that money back but that's not what this should be about. It should be about doing the right thing regardless of what the paperwork says. If you were that person in charge of making the decision to sue the Shanks or not, would you sacrific your compassion for legalities? What if this had happened to someone in your family? Corporations have the ability to make decisions on each individual case. Someone made the wrong decision and I hope they're having major issues because of it. We all know how it is filling out paperwork for employment and benefits. The company says "sign here" and "here" and "initial here" etdc... How many of us actually read the fine print? And why don't we read the fine print? Because it never crosses our minds that we might actually need those benefits some day and we sure never imagine that our own company would hurt us. Come on Walmart...you can make this right and in turn make all of us Average Joes proud to shop at your store.
hey mike
i'm sorry i get so mad i can't spell when it cmes to the big wally, but i grew up in arkansas and watched wal-mart began it's death coil on home grown buss.it's not the questions you ask this man who probably has no money but you talk like he just doesn't want to spend any.like you have no vision of what the real world is really like,kinda like a george bush speech,you know nobody's home anyway open up your eyes and watch sam shephard on cnn he's real
buzz
hey mike
i watch your show all the time just how stupid are you people at hn the people being sued by wal mart THEY WORKED FOR WAL MART you don't know by now wally world is smothering america daa
i was blessed in my life not to have to work for wally i worded for 36 yars for ford and retired but now i work in a pawn shop(my idea) and we loan money to people who work for wal mart everyday of the week for things ike pay for sickness house payment FOOD GAS everthing people need wally's work week is 32 hours everybody needs to find out the truth about this python of a company when a multi billion dollar co. encourages it's employees to go on government assentance how crude gve me a break
buzz
Not heartless. Wal Mart's insurance company is not the only Insurance company to do this. They all do. Why should 2 insurance company's pay out the same amount of $. Who is then getting that extra medical expense funds. But you are right about the lawyer.
I am not happy about this story. But Walmart's insurance company is the the only Employeer's insurance company to sue someone for medical costs that have already been pd for by the person responsible insurance. This so called lawyer they hired Knew full well that the insuranc All medical insurance company's have this clause. Read your insurance plan before you sign that dotted line. So that you know what you are agreeing to. He also knew that she would need care the rest of her life he should have made sure the amount minus his fees included the amount needed for this care. Walmart is not to blame for this at all. The Walton's where not the person behind that Wheel of the Semi. So if Wal Mart is so big and bad. What the H**L is that F***ing Lawyer.
went by walmart yesterday and it was no prking anywhere,seems not alot of folks either have heard this story or just dont care,I find it hard to beleive they dont care,so lets all start by posting this site everywhere we can,I got it posted on utube and myspace,even the video is there,lets get the word out what shameless people walmart ceo and chairmen are,theres got to be something walmart can do to put an end to all this,thanks
I think the american people should stop talking and lets help this lady.We should all get together and pray for her and the family and help them financially.
I am sick at my stomach after hearing this story. It's disgusting and heartbroken to see how greed plays such an important role in our society. What happened to compassion? Walmart won't get another penny from me or my family! Just think, this is just one story...how many more are there?
shame on walmart....sam walton will be shoveling snow in hell before i buy anything from walmart again
Walmart should be ashamed of themselves. They are a BILLION dollar company suing for pocket change. Walmart should lead the way and help change our healthcare system in the US. The Shank family has suffered enough. As a frequent Walmart consumer I am reconsidering where I shop especially if Walmart should win this suit. Walmart should look into what would happen if a counrty wide boycott should happen. It only takes one big mouth to get the party started. Walmart if I were you I would leave this poor family alone. Have you no heart?
I was outraged about reading the plight of the Shanks and how Walmart in all of its greed and selfishness refuse to withdraw their lawsuit. Have any of the CEO's as well as the shareholders ever thought god forbid if this very same thing or even worse would happen to them or their loved ones? What would they do? Is Sam Walton rolling around in his grave laughing -- you bet he is. Is his family? Yes they are...laughing all the way to the bank. They screw their employees, they screw the people who make the very things they sell and I would like to spit on each and every executive at Walmart and the family. We have health insurance for a reason. Walmart, shame on you, shame on you, shame on you.
If everyone who thought they deserved WalMart's money more than WalMart could just take some, rules and laws be damned, would that make you all feel better? This is a tragic case, but there's a whole spectrum of suffering, so where do we start deciding how WalMart's money should be spent? Where do you draw the line? WalMart's low cost model help a huge portion of the country live a much better quality of life than otherwise possible, but if you're really serious about your disdain for this company, go somewhere else. Give them less money and you'll have less reason to hate them. The hypocrisy of people's knee-jerk emotional reactions vs. what they actually do is really sad. People also forget that WalMart is publicaly traded, which means shareholders own the company, which means anyone who has a retirement plan is likely an owner, which means that all those greedy people you're all so quick to condemn are actually you!
In response to Kevin's message...
If Karma was at play every Wal-Mart out there would spontaneously combust. When they can't force suppliers to lower prices they go overseas. They are the greediest, most un-American company out there.
And your comments display gross ignorance of the way Karma works. Your delight in seeing others suffer means you can expect suffering yourself. Simply put, you are an idiot. You and Wal-Mart deserve each other.
To everyone... don't complain about Americans losing contracts overseas yet still continue to shop at Wal-Mart. Be proactive and just boycott the b******ds!
I need to know of a secure Paypal or the likes to send a donation, please help.
Are some of you real,before you make a statement in favor of Walmart, read the bloody story, Walmart is screwing them over the layer took most of the money and left them with nothing near what it takes to look after her, her son just died in George the Moron Bush's war.
This is am outrage. WalMart is run by sick greedy people, the Waltons are greedy bastards and I for one will never buy from them again. Even if they make it right it will only be for short term public opinion. Let us all help this family out. I will send $1.00 to a fund if it is set up and the money goes to the family. I know it is only $1.00 but it shouldn't me more it is a movement by the great and caring people of this world. I know we can get at least 2 million more people to do the same. If there is a decent Lawyer left or a Banker out there who wants to set this fund up, please let me know. BOYCOTT WAL-HEARTLESS-MART NOW
Post BOYCOTT WAL MART NOW
If Wal Mart thinks they need the money that bad
If we the people should Boycott the corporation that treats people like this. Especially a disabled employees
We say Obama Should have got up and left his pastors church
Stand up..we shouldn't open the doors to any Wal Mart
Nation Wide Boycott Do not buy at any Wal Mart
Just now read the family got a million dollars from their law suit against the trucking co. Legal fees took most of it? The family should now sue the lawyer and get the legal fees back. The lawyer did a very bad job. All lawyers that are worth their salt will research everything in a case and should have know about walmarts insurance policy. If the lawyer that handled the case had done what he was paid to do, then the family would not have to go through this. The lawyer should have sued to get walmarts money back, then sued for the other damages. To the family SUE YOUR LAWYER GET BACK LEGAL FEES!
I am sure this family got more money from their law suit against the trucking co. other than just medical bills. If they didn't get a lot more and had a lawyer, the lawyer must not have a degree.
How much money did they get from the trucking companys insurance? I think they got enough to pay walmart back and have plenty to live on . Really why should walmart pay for something that wasnt their fault? The trucking companys insurance should pay for everything and pay this woman for the rest of her life. Even if I had billions of dollars I would not want to pay a hospital for a persons injuries that was not my fault. The Driver of the truck and the trucking insurance should pay walmart back and pay this family for the rest of her life.
Deborah Shanks Medical Fund
Bank of America
320 W Main St
Jackson MO 63755
Please pass this Information on. I had a difficult time finding this. Well, it wasn't that hard. But it wasn't out there like you would think it should be.
Make Checks Payable to;
Deborah Shanks Medical Fund
Mail to;
Bank of America
320 W Main St.
This story is truely a sad one and I think walmart should their case. This family has been through enough. Hearing a story like this makes a person not want to do business with this company.
I called Walmart's main headquarters today and voiced my outrage. I'm urging everyone who has watched this video to do the same. You must press the number for "media relations" when you call. The number is 1800-3310085. Please pass this number on.
WOW i just say to "KEVINS" mesg what an idiot, how could anyone plan on their sons death? get reall you POS. Walmart is CRAP! oh and kevin maybe you shoud read more "THEY ARE NOT SUEING WAL-MART you Fing idoit WALMART IS SUEING THEM! READ YOU DA
Holy crap people who cares about who is running?? seriously she is ill and they didnt do it Walmart is to blame.
hey kevin your comment was inspirational!u sound like a hillary supporter.huh. i wonder what she has to say about this .i mean obama got bad pr from what his pastor said in his own church,karma!!!! u know she work in the law office or was it board of directory for walmart. just concluded that it people like u that keep usdivided. not united. good us of assholes.
I will NEVER set foot in any Wal Mart again.
This is just too much. Completely over the top. The heartless company could take their legal ruling yet present the family with the money. This family also sacrificed a son to the war in Iraq. Hello PEOPLE!! A far cry from Sears - maybe we should all be shopping at Sears . I know I will be shopping anywhere but Wal Mart.
i am so sadden by this story but outraged at the comment that man made about this family. i can't believe someone other than a manson family member could be so evil. how can you say they are scam artist? they are merely trying to survive in an evil world with people in it like the asshole that made that comment. the only thing i can say to him is you better read your own comment because you are one of those BAD people you are talking about. i am definetly goning to keep the shank family in my prayers but even more i am going to have to pray harder for the charles manson follower that made that comment. god don't like ugly!!!
what a shame" this family has been through alot! what an insult to her and family injuries.walmart has taken bigger lost before and i thought walmart is family oriented" i would like for everyone that watch this segment and send a letter to walmart in support of this family on having a heart and showing some compassion......
I was about to leave this site when I noticed "Kevin's" comments.
We should thank Kevin. He is a bold and vivid example of what is taking place...it is a combination of angry ignorance and heartless concern for another's plight. I'm not mad at Kevin I just wish there was a way to open his eyes so he could escape the entrapments he has chosen.
Kevin and others who will not allow quarter or mercy are dangerous and serve only to serve themselves.
Walmart is conveniently appearing "fair and just- minded" , yet unwaivering to the "established rule." This needs to be clearl