Walmart ordered to pay $10 million to woman who lost leg after stepping on rusty nail in store

A South Carolina jury has ordered Walmart to pay $10 million in damages to a woman who sued the company. The woman said she stepped on a rusty nail in the store that penetrated her foot, and she has since lost a portion of her leg.

April Jones sued Walmart in 2017, and a jury in Florence County just awarded the damages to Jones last month. “The jury sent a message to Walmart that if you come into Florence County and injure one of their own,” said Roy Willey IV, one of Jones’ lawyers, “they will make sure that person is taken care of. We are forever grateful.” Willey’s comments came as he made a statement announcing the verdict in favor of his client.

Jones said she had been walking in an aisle of a Florence branch of Walmart in 2015 when she stepped on a nail that became lodged in her foot. An infection soon resulted from that injury, and she eventually was forced to undergo amputations, including several toes and the majority of her right leg.

Because of the infection that led to amputations, Jones has used a wheelchair for six years, her lawyers noted. The firm representing Jones said, “Her daily life was significantly interrupted.” But Walmart is not so confident Jones’ injuries stemmed from stepping on the rusty nail.

Randy Hargrove, a spokesperson for the store, said, “We appreciate the jury’s service, however we do not believe the verdict is supported by the evidence or that Ms. Jones’ injury resulted from what she alleged in her complaint.”

Jones’ lawyers have said that she would use the money she receives from the lawsuit to buy a prosthetic, update her home to better accommodate her wheelchair, and pay her past and future medical bills.