Ex-Dollar General employee files $1 million lawsuit against the chain after surviving multiple armed robberies on the job
San Antonio TX Aug 21 2020
A former Dollar General employee seriously injured twice during three robberies over the course of 12 months is now filing a lawsuit against the chain.
San Antonio Express-News journalist Patrick Danner reported that ex-store worker Timothy Ray Ramos was stabbed and shot in two separate incidents at the same Dollar General location in San Antonio, Texas.
Ramos was working in the store when it was robbed on November 21, 2017, the newspaper reported. Two weeks later, armed robbers stabbed him in the neck. And on November 9, 2018, a robber shot Ramos multiple times.
Ramos’ lawyer did not immediately respond to comment. A Dollar General spokesperson told Business Insider that the company is unable to publicly comment on pending litigation.
“Nevertheless, do note that the safety and security of our customers and employees is a top priority, and we employ a number of measures designed to create and maintain a safe work environment for our employees and a safe shopping environment for our customers, all while protecting company assets,” the Dollar General spokesperson said. “Our safety and security measures take into account not only federal and state laws and requirements, but also reflect the highest levels of retail industry standards and law enforcement agency recommendations.”
The Dollar General spokesperson went on to say that the company provides employees with an “award-winning and world-class training department”
“We do not publicly provide specifics on specific safety and security measures in our stores, as to do so potentially compromises the integrity of these measures, provides a roadmap to would-be wrongdoers, and may place customers and employees at risk,” the spokesperson said.
Public records say that Ramos filed an injury lawsuit against Dolar General in San Antonio on August 13. The San Antonio Express-News reported that the former employee is asking for $1 million in his suit. Nathaniel Alexander Panvini, Kameron Anthony Green, and Hector Fabian Aguliar — three robbers that are alleged in injuring Ramos — are also named as defendants.
Dollar General and other dollar store chains, like Dollar Tree and Family Dollar, have been increasingly under scrutiny over violent in-store incidents.
On May 1, Family Dollar security guard Calvin Munerlyn was shot and killed in Flint, Michigan over a dispute about the store’s coronavirus mask policy. On July 24, a gunman also shot and killed two women in a Family Dollar parking lot in Lumberton, North Carolina.
News outlets including CNN and Pro Publica have released extensive reports indicating that dollar store chains like Dollar General and Dollar Tree are prime targets when it comes to robberies and violent crime.
Read Dollar General’s full statement here:
At this time, we are unable to publicly comment on pending litigation.
Nevertheless, do note that the safety and security of our customers and employees is a top priority, and we employ a number of measures designed to create and maintain a safe work environment for our employees and a safe shopping environment for our customers, all while protecting company assets.
Our safety and security measures take into account not only federal and state laws and requirements, but also reflect the highest levels of retail industry standards and law enforcement agency recommendations.
Our award-winning and world-class training department provides education for employees on measures that are designed to prevent, deter and if necessary, respond to criminal activity in our stores.
We do not publicly provide specifics on specific safety and security measures in our stores, as to do so potentially compromises the integrity of these measures, provides a roadmap to would-be wrongdoers and may place customers and employees at risk.
