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McKeesport, PA — An 81-year-old woman from McKeesport, Pennsylvania, has filed a lawsuit against Walmart Inc., alleging that a store employee mistook her for a banned individual, leading to a traumatic confrontation that resulted in her hospitalization and the distress of her 8-year-old daughter.

Startling Accusations

Willie Mae Stinson, accompanied by her great-granddaughter, Keora, visited the North Versailles Walmart Supercenter in August 2022. They were there to process a return when a shocking incident unfolded. A Walmart employee approached Stinson and loudly accused her of being Linda King, an individual allegedly banned from Walmart.

Despite Stinson's vehement protests and the confirmation of her identity by responding police officers, the employee persisted in his accusations. The escalating confrontation, with a crowd of onlookers, proved too much for Stinson, causing her to lose consciousness and necessitating hospitalization.

A Nightmare Unfolds

"The police were satisfied that there was a mistaken identity, but the Walmart employee continued yelling. The crowd was closing in," the complaint, filed Thursday and made public Friday, stated. "Ms. Stinson had syncope and was taken to McKeesport Hospital by the paramedic… Keora Stinson was also traumatized by the incident, as she had observed her great-grandmother, who is her adoptive mother, collapse and was then taken away for questioning."

Legal Action Taken

The Stinsons have taken legal action against Walmart, alleging negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress. According to their complaint, they visited the Walmart Supercenter on August 6, 2022, with a receipt to process a merchandise return. However, they were met with hostility.

"A heavyset Walmart employee approached Willie Mae, called her Linda King, and told her she was a criminal, a thief, she was not welcome here, and get out," the complaint recounted. "At first she ignored him because her name is not Linda King… The Walmart [employee] yelled at the customer service representative, saying, 'Do not wait on her, she is a thief, she is trespassing. She is not allowed in any of our stores.'"

Escalation and Consequences

Police were called to the store, verified Willie Mae Stinson's identity through her driver's license, and concluded that she was not the person they were looking for. However, the Walmart employee persisted in his claims. Stinson's condition worsened, and she collapsed into a chair, prompting her removal from the scene. Keora Stinson, her daughter, was separated from her during this ordeal and questioned about her mother's identity.

Willie Mae Stinson spent two days in the hospital, where tests suggested symptoms of a heart attack. The traumatic incident left her great-granddaughter, Keora, suffering from anxiety and nightmares, necessitating medical care and follow-up treatments.

Allegations of Negligence

"Willie Mae Stinson was a frequent shopper at Walmart and known to the store manager," the complaint emphasized. "There was no legitimate reason for anyone to call Willie Mae Stinson by the name Linda King. There was no legitimate reason for anyone to accuse Willie Mae Stinson of theft. The conduct was outrageous."

The lawsuit also alleges that Walmart was negligent in not having a system and records to identify banned shoplifters. Furthermore, it accuses the store of failing to disperse the gathering crowd of onlookers and ignoring the possibility that it had wrongly accused Willie Mae Stinson, even after she produced her driver's license.

Keora Stinson, who already had anxiety issues, had her condition exacerbated by the confrontation and the subsequent questioning about her mother's identity while walking through the store. Since the incident, she has experienced nightmares and difficulty sleeping.

Legal Responses

Counsel for the Stinsons declined to comment on the suit as of Monday. Representatives for Walmart did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

In a shocking turn of events, a routine shopping trip turned into a harrowing ordeal, leaving an elderly woman hospitalized and her young daughter traumatized. The lawsuit against Walmart seeks justice for the distress endured by the Stinson family.