Shoppers sue over fatal Wal-Mart stampede

MINEOLA, N.Y., Dec. 2 (UPI) -- Two men who say they were hurt in a fatal stampede at a Long Island Wal-Mart are ready to sue over an alleged lack of preventative action by police.

The "notice of claim" against Nassau County and its police force contends officers did nothing to cool down the crowd in the minutes before they stormed through the doors, trampling an employee to death and leaving Fritz and Jonathan Mesadieu with back and neck injuries.

Newsday said Tuesday the claim seeks $2 million in damages and alleged that officers on the scene "stood outside their vehicles drinking coffee while the crowd became more and more unruly."

Legal action is also expected from the family of the Queens man killed in the incident last Friday at Green Acres Mall.

New York Newsday said relatives of Jdimytal Damour were distraught over the death of the Queens resident who was in the wrong place when some 2,000 shoppers poured through the entrance of the store.

"The family is very upset," said lawyer Jordan Hecht, who represents Damour's two sisters. "This was preventable with just the slightest bit of caution."