Market Successfully and Get Sued!
Posted on December 4, 2008 | Permalink
By Lane Casteix
By now everyone has heard about the unfortunate WalMart employee who was trampled to death on the "Black Friday" opening of the store in Valley Stream, NY. According to news reports, out of control shoppers stormed the store's doors and pushed a temporary worker trying to open the doors down and trampled him to death in their headlong pursuit of savings.
As might be expected a suit has come out of this, and blame for Mr. Jdimytai Damour's death has been placed on the success of WalMart's promotional efforts.
A complaint filed in New York State Supreme Court in the Bronx on behalf of survivors of the fallen worker claims that besides failing to provide adequate security, Wal-Mart "engaged in specific marketing and advertising techniques to specifically attract a large crowd and create an environment of frenzy and mayhem."
What we in the advertising and marketing business should take away from this is if you are successful you could be sued. That is a disturbing thought.