The sisters of Jdimytai Darnour, the 34-year old Wal-Mart employee trampled to death on Black Friday, have sued the retailer for wrongful death. The suit, filed Wednesday in New York State Supreme Court in the Bronx, does not specify damages.
Accounts of Darnour's death early last Friday shocked the nation. The 6-foot, five inch, 270 pound employee was stationed at the main entrance as the store prepared to open around 5 a.m. A large crowd drawn by highly-publicized Black Friday bargains began pushing and shoving as the doors opened, witnesses say.
Despite his size, Darnour was knocked to the floor and crushed as shoppers literally ran over him to get inside. An autopsy showed that he died of asphyxiation.
Police officials in Nassau County, New York say they had warned retailers they would have to provide their own security and crowd control for Black Friday, which normally draws large crowds.
Nassau County Police Commissioner Lawrence Mulvey said the Wal-Mart store, located in Valley Stream, did not have adequate security on hand.
The lawsuit, naming Darnour's two sisters as plaintiffs, claims Wal-Mart "engaged in specific marketing and advertising techniques to specifically attract a large crowd and create an environment of frenzy and mayhem and was otherwise careless, reckless and negligent."
Police say there were an estimated 2,000 people lined up out side the store when it opened its doors.
