(Reuters) – The family of the Amazon.com delivery trucker in Illinois who died in December when a warehouse was destroyed with a swarm of tornadoes that killed six people there, filed a lawsuit against the online retailer on Monday over his death.
The suit, the first from the company stemming in the disaster, was introduced state court by the Chicago firm, Clifford Law Offices, with respect to the household of driver Austin McEwen, 26. It had been filed in Third Judicial Circuit in Madison County, Illinois.
It alleges the Amazon knew that conditions were “highly unsafe as tornado warnings had been issued,” but company officials “rolled the dice with peoples’ lives to place profit over safety,” attorney Jack J. Casciato said.
“We're seeking damages in excess of multi-millions of dollars,” Mr. Casciato said.
Kelly Nantel, an Amazon spokesperson, said the warehouse was built in compliance with all codes and that Amazon managers followed the weather conditions closely.
“We feel our team did what's right as soon as a warning was issued, and they worked to maneuver people to safety as quickly as possible,” Ms. Natel said inside a statement to Reuters.
