Shopper, attacked at Carrefour, sues retail giant

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-05-14 21:00

KUNMING -- A woman who was seriously injured in an attack at a southwest China Carrefour store in November has taken the retail giant to court, demanding financial compensation for her injuries.

Wuhua Court in Kunming, capital of the southwestern Yunnan Province, heard Xie Guomei's case Wednesday but did not hand down a ruling.

The 33-year-old woman was shopping at a Carrefour on November 29, 2008 in Kunming when Lu Zhiwen cut her left arm with a knife.

"My muscle atrophy never recovered after that and the doctors said even my left hand might not be able to function well," Xie told Xinhua Thursday over the phone.

Xie wants 170,000 yuan (US$24,285) in compensation from Carrefour for that injury.

She also said she suffered from emotional trauma.

"I cannot shake off the nightmare even today," she said.

Xie insisted Carrefour was responsible for her injuries because the French retailer lacked adequate security.

"No security guard was around even after I was injured," she said.

Carrefour, however, maintained that the incident was unpredictable and store employees "did what they could".

After the attack, employees called police, helped the injured into an ambulance and the store paid medical bills, a court official said, quoting a Carrefour attorney.

Xie was one of three people injured in the attack. Another customer, 22-year-old Xie Peiling, who was sustained a chest wound, filed a lawsuit last month, demanding 150,000 yuan in compensation from the retailer. Her case is still pending in the same Kunming court.

The attacker, Lu, was shot dead at the scene.