Dorothy Baker

By Joel Goldenberg
The Suburban

Walmart has apologized but offered no further comment following allegations that employees at the Jean Talon store did little or nothing to help a Côte St. Luc senior who was severely injured on the property in January.

CSL councillor Mike Cohen has recounted that his District 2 constituent Dorothy Baker, 89, who he described as dynamic and independent, slipped and fell in the Walmart Jean Talon parking lot on Jan. 11.

The resident’s grandson Jonathan Labow-Hart told Cohen that she was in the parking lot for an hour before help arrived, even though 911 was called immediately.

“Due to the area surrounding the fall, an individual went into the store to alert Walmart staff asking them to barricade the area to avoid her being hit by a car,” Cohen wrote. “Staff said they could not comply nor did they come out to assess the situation. A good Samaritan by the name of Milan retrieved a sleeping bag from inside the store to cover Dorothy. Milan then called her grandsons who quickly arrived at the scene. Her grandson Simon Fauteux held the sleeping bag over her head to shield her from the falling snow, however she was still laying on top of the snow covered ground as she could not be moved.”

Cohen added that the Montreal fire department arrived first and ensured she could be brought indoors. He wrote that Urgences Santé arrived nearly an hour after the initial 911 call was made.

The resident’s daughter-in-law said that motorists “opened their doors to create some kind of barrier to prevent further injuries.”

Cohen wrote that Baker’s hip was shattered and could not be replaced, and that two metal rods and multiple posts were inserted instead to ensure she could walk again. She was then in rehab, rushed to hospital with a pulmonary embolism, and then went back to rehab, where she contracted COVID.

The councillor was told that the store manager apologized to the family and allegedly told them that store personnel were not fully detailed on what took place, that they underestimated the urgency of the situation and that retraining should take place so that this does not happen again.

Cohen also revealed that an insurance company is reviewing the case.

“This ordeal has taken a toll on both Dorothy and her family,” the councillor wrote. “Her life will be greatly impacted as a result of this.

“We thought Walmart was all about community and customer appreciation,” says a family statement.

Steeve Azoulay, senior director of public affairs for Walmart, told The Suburban and Cohen, “We’re aware of the incident and are very sorry to hear a customer was injured in the parking lot. While we’ve been in touch with the family, given that this is an ongoing matter and out of respect for all parties involved, we cannot provide further comment.” n