The parents of Austin McEwen, one of the six victims who died after a tornado hit an Amazon warehouse in Edwardsville, Illinois, last month, announced Monday that they filed a lawsuit against Amazon for the death of their son.
McEwen’s parents say that Amazon, as well as a construction company associated with the warehouse facility, sustained significant structural damage after a tornado hit it on 10 December 2021, failed to use reasonable care to protect workers from injury or death.
McEwen, aged 26, who was working as an independent contractor making deliveries for Amazon, sought refuge in a bathroom at the warehouse, the lawsuit provided by Clifford Law says. Offices, representing the McEwens.
Alice McEwen, Austin mother said Amazon chose not to evacuate workers from facilities relations in a timely manner, as he wanted them to continue to do their jobs.
“It seems that Amazon put profits first this holiday season rather than the safety of our son and the other five families who lost loved ones,” he said.
In a statement to CNN Business, Amazon spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said the company will defend itself against the lawsuit, adding that Amazon’s approach remains being to support the employees and partners, the families who lost their loved ones, the community and all those affected by the tornadoes.
Nantel said the lawsuit misrepresents key facts, such as the difference between various types of tornado and severe weather warnings, as well as the condition and safety of the building. He also noted that while severe weather alerts are common in the area, it is not typical for businesses to shut down operations in anticipation of severe storms.
When asked if some workers like McEwen were ordered to take shelter in a bathroom, Amazon declined to comment.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration opened an investigation into the Edwardsville warehouse collapse last month. The agency has six months to complete the investigation.
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