PORTLAND. Ore. — A DDA Multnomah County grand juror has ordered Walmart, to pay $4.4million in damages to a man who sued Walmart, claiming that he was harassed and racially profiled at a Portland area Walmart store in 2020..
According to KGW, the plaintiff “spied on” Dovey Mangum shopping and ordered him to leave. KGW also reported that he called the police after refusing.
According to his lawsuit and his lawyers’ news release, Mangum visited Walmart in Wood Village to purchase a lightbulb for his fridge. Joe Williams, the store clerk watched Mangum as he shoppached after he arrived.
Williams asked Mangum for permission to leave, but Mangum said no, and that he had done nothing wrong. Lawyers for Mangum stated that Williams had told Mangum that he would call the police to tell them Mangum threatened to smash him in the face .”
Williams called a non-emergency dispatch number and said that he had “had a person refusing leave”, according to the suit.
According to Mangum’s attorneys, Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Mangum’s call and “refused” to act against him. The lawyers stated that deputies made this decision on Williams’s “shifting reasons for his call and due to Williams’ reputation for false reporting to police .”
According to Mangum’s lawyers, Bryan White, Sheriff, and an additional deputy, met with the Walmart director and assistant manager the following day. They explained to them that they had observed a pattern of Williams calling police to report dangerous active situations such as Williams physically attacking him or others employees. This was not the case.
He was kept on the job by Walmart corporate executives and his store. He was fired in July 2020 after he “mishandled $35 Walmart property,” according to the suit.
Williams, in deposition, denied allegations that he called police wrongly and said Mangum threatened to strike him.
Mangum sued Walmart over negligent retention. Also, Walmart was accused of summoning police officers with an improper purpose.
“He lives a message of self-respect and teaches young people to do the same, which is to’stand up when you believe you are right’,” Greg Kafoury (Mangum’s lawyer) stated in a statement. We were able show the jury the unconscionable lack of responsibility of the largest corporation in the world because of his bravery.
Walmart spokeswoman Randy Hargrove questioned some claims, and stated that Walmart considered the verdict “excessive .”
“.
“We do not tolerate discrimination. Hargrove stated in a statement that he believes the verdict was excessive and not supported by evidence.
He claimed that Mangum interacted with Walmart associates while they were stopping suspected shoplifters and surveilling them. He then refused to leave, despite being repeatedly asked.
” We are looking at all options, including any post-trial motions. He said.
