Walmart has been ordered to pay millions to the family of Saiy’yah Allen-Bey, a boy who died following a store incident. Tamika Springer sued Walmart, alleging the Fort Lauderdale store created a “dangerous and unsafe condition.”
In November 2020, seven-year-old Saiy’yah walked into a metal stock cart and hit his head, leading to severe head injuries and seizures. He passed away in May 2023 after enduring these complications for over two years, according to Daily Mail.
On the fifth day of the civil trial, Walmart argued that Saiy’yah was “inattentive” and responsible for his own injuries. However, on Friday, a jury awarded his family $2.7 million. A spokesperson for Leeder Law, representing the family, called the verdict a “bittersweet victory.”
Initially, the jury awarded $9 million but later decided Walmart was only 30% responsible. Each of Saiy’yah’s parents was found 30% at fault, and his estate was deemed 10% responsible, according to Law&Crime.
“This verdict is a bittersweet victory. Nothing can bring back this beloved child and talented artist. Saiy-Yah loved to draw and create art with pride and precision and this decision affirms that his life had immeasurable value,” Thomas H. Leeder, the family’s attorney, said in a statement.
“Walmart’s negligence stole a future filled with incredible promise of a young artist. We hope this verdict serves as a wake-up call to corporations everywhere: prioritize safety and following its own safety rules or face the consequences.”
Following the verdict, the retailer said: “We empathize with any family dealing with loss. The jury found the majority of the fault did not lie with Walmart. Under current Florida law, Walmart would not have any financial responsibility for the judgement.
“We are awaiting a decision on a directed verdict and considering all of our post-trial options,” they added, referring to the state’s new system of comparative fault law.
The jury’s award in the Saiy’yah case was influenced by a state law passed last year, which prevents plaintiffs in negligence lawsuits from recovering damages if they are found more than 50% at fault.
However, this new law did not apply to this case, as the lawsuit was filed before the reform occurred.
Despite Walmart’s legal team asserting the company was “not liable for the incident” in a motion for summary judgment, the jury still awarded $2.7 million to Allen-Bey’s family.
“Walmart is not liable for the incident as the stock cart was so open and obvious that [Allen-Bey] should have been reasonably expected to discover it and protect himself (by simply walking around it).
“[Allen-Bey] failed to use his senses and was walking while looking backward, therefore he did not observe the open, obvious and innocuous stock cart,” the company said.
During the trial, Walmart’s attorneys questioned if the accident was truly the cause of Saiy’yah’s diagnosis and death three years later.
In a motion filed in June, Walmart argued that a stock cart is not inherently dangerous and doesn’t constitute a hazardous condition.
They mentioned surveillance footage showing the boy running down the aisle seconds before the accident, though the incident itself wasn’t visible.
It was noted that Saiy’yah’s sister had warned him to watch out for the cart while he was looking backward, but it was too late to prevent the collision.
“Here, unfortunately, [Allen-Bey] was inattentive and failed to walk around a stock cart’s handles that were observed by his sister, who was not walking with her head turned.”
Despite Walmart placing blame on the deceased child, the court rejected the company’s request for summary judgment, according to Newsweek.
Saiy’yah was fondly remembered in his obituary as a “King that the world deserved but wasn’t ready for.”
He was also painted as a young boy with extraordinary talent in art.
“He often made origami birds and drawings for our friends and even random people he came in contact with,” the obituary read.
“His eyes and smile lit the entire universe! He did everything with the utmost pride and precision. We all told him how brilliant and genius he is and how his talents will only get greater.”
