Spring, Texas
Houston attorneys, Alicia Roberson and Mo Aziz of Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner, along with attorneys from Maverick Ray & Associates filed suit earlier this month representing a 24-year-old female with mental disabilities who was raped by a co-worker while on the job at a Spring, Texas Walmart store in November of 2020. The young woman wishes to remain nameless as she is still an employee at the location where the rape occurred, though she is actively seeking employment opportunities elsewhere.
The incident occurred at a Walmart Store in the North Houston suburb of Spring, Texas. The perpetrator, a stock room associate, had a history of previous assaults against the young woman at the store. Prior to the incident occurring, store management at the Walmart location was aware that the stock room associate had been stalking the young woman for several months. Walmart was additionally aware that the stock room associate had previously physically assaulted the young woman on two occasions on the store premises, prior to the rape. Upon learning of the rape, Walmart management at the Spring, Texas store refused to call the police. The young woman’s mother would ultimately be the first to get law enforcement involved.
The 24-year-old woman was hired by Walmart while in high school through a disability services program. Walmart management at the Spring, Texas location was fully aware that the young woman had a mental handicap. Walmart has a practice of hiring employees with special needs to work as sales associates and greeters and has been known to be accommodating to this special population. Walmart’s failure to use ordinary care in protecting the safety of their employees, particularly those with mental handicaps and special needs, is what led to this tragic incident.
Because of the young woman’s mental handicap, she has not been able to find another job that will accommodate her and has had no option but to continue working in the Walmart store where the incident occurred. The young woman is continuing to seek a new job and has asked for the assistance of the Spring, Texas community in doing so.
Job leads and questions regarding the lawsuit can be directed to the young woman’s attorney and advocate for sexual assault survivors, Alicia Roberson at [email protected] or 713-222-7211.