CHARLESTON – An Elkview woman says she was injured while using a self-checkout counter at Walmart.
Julia Walling filed her complaint in Kanawha Circuit Court against Walmart Inc. and Walmart Facility 2036.
According to the complaint, Walling was shopping at Walmart on Corridor G on June 21, 2021, checking out when a piece of jewelry got caught between the conveyor belt and a metal plate. She tried to retrieve it, but the belt didn’t stop, trapping and pinning her hands between the cash register and her groceries.
Walling says she screamed for help, and an employee pressed the emergency stop switch on the machine.
She sustained severe and permanent injuries including nerve damage in her neck as well as injuries to her back, arms, head, right elbow, both wrists and hands. She was treated at Charleston Area Medical Center, Cleveland Clinic and other medical facilities.
She seeks compensatory damages for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost earning capacity, annoyance, aggravation, mental anguish and other injuries. She also seeks punitive damages, pre- and post-judgment interests, court costs and other expenses.
In its answer, Walmart denies the claims and seeks to have the case dismissed.
Walling is being represented by Kevin Davis of Charleston. Walmart is being represented by Tai Shadrick Kluemper and Wesley A. Shumway of Spilman Thomas & Battle in Charleston. The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Kenneth Ballard.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number 23-C-525
