https://www.yahoo.com/parenting/mom-blames-target-for-22-year-old-sons-suicide-109218082852.html

 

"Three days after Graham Gentles was fired without warning from the Pasadena Target where he worked last July, the 22-year-old committed suicide. Now his mother, Virginia Gentles, is calling for Target to take responsibility for its role in his death. In the wrongful death lawsuit Victoria filed against Target in L.A. she alleges that the company engaged in intentional infliction of emotional distress on her son, who had Asperger’s syndrome, negligence, and false imprisonment as part of a company practice that subjects employees to a “walk of shame” before they are let go".

 

Ok, after reading the article I have to be honest. Yes, it's very sad, but even if what the woman claims is 100% true, then this kid was so fragile there are a million other things in this adult world that very possibly could or would have sent him over the edge and he would have done the same thing eventually. Right? With that said, if it IS true Target has a practice of this, it's pretty pathetic.

My son has Asperger's and I can tell you that if this had happened to him, he would have shrugged his shoulders, gone downstairs and played his video games all without mentioning a thing to us. Mr. No Emotion...whatsoever.

To me this screams of the mother being (and understandably so) distraught over her son's death and trying to profit off it.

To me this screams of the mother being (and understandably so) distraught over her son's death and trying to profit off it.

 

I don't think she wants money; she is asking for the "walk of shame" to cease.

I don't think she wants money; she is asking for the "walk of shame" to cease.

 

So she's not asking for any money? It says she wants them to take responsibility for their role in his death.

 

Is it even possible to sue someone and not ask for money?

My son has Asperger's and I can tell you that if this had happened to him, he would have shrugged his shoulders, gone downstairs and played his video games all without mentioning a thing to us. Mr. No Emotion...whatsoever.

 

Worked with a guy who had it. Well, we think he had it, he never told us he did but after several of us doing some research and one guy having some experience working with people who had it, we came to the conclusion he did. He would every once in a while fly off the deep end, get really mad...then be ok a while later. I'm quite sure there are varying degrees of Aspergers, and this kid may have had it bad, I don't know. But if he did have it that bad, maybe he shouldn't have been working at Target.

Can anyone confirm this "walk of shame".

With that said, if it IS true Target has a practice of this, it's pretty pathetic.

Depending on what all was involved, and we don't know what was involved, I can see where a lawsuit on the "walk of shame" issue with her son, as he wasn't charged. Why was he fired? We don't know all the facts, she should know more than us, maybe she is right, maybe not.

What about the possibility of PTSD as the cause?

Can anyone confirm this "walk of shame".

 

A buddy of mine was a manager at a couple different Targets over a 5-6 year period.

 

I asked him, and he said they fired numerous people during his time there, and this is the first time he's ever heard of something like this. If it happened, it was specific to this particular location, in his opinion.

Deep pockets theory.

I would almost be willing to bet that "If he was actually handcuffed and walked out of the store" the store has a written or recorded admission of theft by him.

 

I dealt with a LOT of employees that were terminated for theft. In the cases where the police were involved, the police determine how they remove them from the store. Some Police depts handcuff everyone, some don't. Some Police depts walk them out through the store, while some remove them out of a back door. It is up to the local police how they handle that or it was in every case I dealt with.

 

In all cases charges aren't filed even with an admission of theft...there are many variables.