Wal-Mart Rattled by a Snake Claim
By Robert Warne - October 2, 2003 While shopping for shoes in a Texas Wal-Mart Sept. 29, Douglas Hatchett got a little more than sticker shock when a rattlesnake popped out of a box and bit him on the hand.
With the 16-inch Western Diamondback still attached to his hand, Hatchett jerked back and threw the snake on the ground and stomped it to death.
According to the Associated Press, the 31-year-old carpenter then went up to a Wal-Mart employee and asked for a snakebite kit.
A kit was retrieved and an ambulance was dispatched to the store.
Hatchet was treated at the hospital and released that night.
Following the ordeal he filed a claim to have Wal-Mart pay for his medical bills.
Even though Hatchett is only seeking to have his medical tab covered, Wal-Mart is hesitant to pay his claim because store officials don’t think the man’s story adds up and that he could possibly be just trying to snake a few bucks out of them.
The AP also reported the initial opinion from the police is that the snake didn’t appear freshly killed when they retrieved it from the store.
Wal-Mart officials are taking this civil matter seriously by continuing to interview witnesses and review security tapes so it doesn’t end up getting bit in court by this bizarre claim.
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