Fired Wal-Mart guard sues

[LavianoTS386 Member Find all posts View Profile Close LavianoTS386]

First published: Thursday, May 4, 2006

ROTTERDAM -- A fired Wal-Mart security guard is suing her former employer for gender discrimination after her lawyer says she was let go for chasing a purse snatcher near the Altamont Avenue store.

In a written statement that her lawyer says she submitted to Wal-Mart after the April 10 incident, Shannon Kennedy, 32, describes how she called police and chased the robber in her car after he grabbed a 77-year-old woman's purse outside the store.

The purse was recovered behind a nearby drug store.

Three days later, the Waterford woman was fired after being told she violated company policy by pursuing the thief, said Kennedy's attorney, John Aretakis. He claims a male security guard was given an award by Wal-Mart for similar action about a year ago.

Aretakis said Kennedy was told that she was only supposed to protect company property.

A Wal-Mart spokesman, Kevin Gardner, said he could not comment on pending litigation and said he did not know the details of the policy in question.

In the lawsuit, filed in state Supreme Court in Schenectady Wednesday, Kennedy is seeking $1 million.

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[N. A. Corbier Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close N. A. Corbier]

Heh. Lets take a look at what she did.

A person committed an offense, on property. She got in her vehicle and pursued off property, endangering the lives of motorists and herself.

We'll stop there.

[Mr. Security Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mr. Security]

Three days later, the Waterford woman was fired after being told she violated company policy by pursuing the thief, said Kennedy's attorney, John Aretakis. He claims a male security guard was given an award by Wal-Mart for similar action about a year ago.


If this is true, then she might have a case. It's not the first time I have seen security companies praise a guard even though they didn't follow company policy. From what I have seen, some companies capitalize on it if the outcome is good, but fire you if it goes south.

Regarding the million dollar figure, I'd like to know how they arrived at that number.

[Lawson Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Lawson]

Regarding the million dollar figure, I'd like to know how they arrived at that number.

Go big or go home

[The Lord of the Keys Member Find all posts View Profile Close The Lord of the Keys]

Where I work we are often told to use our own judgement. The client keeps alot of rule vague. They want us to take care of things but the they don't want to accept any responsibility if things go wrong.

[Mr. Security Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Mr. Security]

...... The client keeps alot of rule vague. They want us to take care of things but the they don't want to accept any responsibility if things go wrong.

Yep. That's done intentionally. When you have a client like that, your "tenure" at the site will be short.