In a striking legal confrontation, a Florida resident has accused a major retail corporation of racial discrimination following an altercation at one of its stores. On December 12, 2024, Nader Wassef filed a complaint in the Circuit Court of the Sixth Judicial Circuit in Pinellas County against Walmart, Inc., alleging discriminatory practices that violated the Florida Civil Rights Act.
The incident unfolded on January 3, 2024, when Wassef and his family visited a Walmart store in Palm Harbor, Florida. The family intended to return some items and purchase others from the clearance section. However, they encountered a pricing discrepancy at the self-checkout counter where vitamins marked at $3.18 were ringing up as $10.98. When Wassef sought assistance from an associate who confirmed the lower price, she consulted her supervisor for an override. The situation escalated when Ana, a manager at Walmart, allegedly responded with hostility upon hearing Wassef's Middle Eastern accent and refused to honor the advertised price.
Feeling threatened by Ana's aggressive demeanor and refusal to assist further, Wassef called 911 for help. The manager reportedly threw their shopping bags on the floor and demanded that Wassef and his family leave the store under threat of trespassing charges. Despite cooperating with law enforcement's instructions to exit the premises, Wassef was detained by police officers outside the store and later arrested on charges of trespassing—a charge subsequently dismissed by the Pinellas County State Attorney’s Office on January 23, 2024.
Wassef's lawsuit claims that this ordeal caused him significant physical, mental, and emotional distress along with tangible losses such as job opportunities and security clearance due to his arrest record. He argues that Walmart's actions constituted racial discrimination under Chapter 760 of Florida Statutes (FCRA) as he was subjected to disparate treatment based on his race—a claim supported by his assertion that no Caucasian customer had faced similar repercussions for addressing pricing errors at this location.
In seeking justice through this legal action, Wassef demands compensatory damages for lost income and emotional suffering alongside punitive damages aimed at deterring future misconduct by Walmart or similar entities. He also requests reimbursement for attorney fees incurred during litigation proceedings.
Representing Wassef is attorney Luke Lirot from Luke Charles Lirot P.A., while no information about Walmart’s legal representation is provided in this document. The case is presided over by Judge Ken Burke under Case ID: 24-005433-CI.