Dollar General sued after Georgia man says worker tackled, nearly suffocated him

DOUGHTERY COUNTY, Ga. — Attorneys for a customer at a Dollar General store in south Georgia has filed a lawsuit against the company.

Michael King’s family said he was tackled and held down after a store employee accused him of shoplifting.

The incident happened Oct. 27 at the store off South Slappey Boulevard in Albany. Video shows a worker on top of King as he repeatedly says that he couldn’t breathe.

The lawsuit accuses Dollar General of gross negligence of employees, failure to properly train employees and a failure to keep their customers safe.

“You can hear the witness say the doors were locked to the Dollar General, the manager not allowing anyone to leave,” attorney L. Chris Stewart told Channel 2 Action News.

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Channel 2′s ABC affiliate WALB-TV first obtained the video in October and spoke with King’s family. WALB-TV reported that King had to be placed on a ventilator for nine days.

Lawyers for King and his family said their client suffered significant injuries and still cannot walk on his own.

“He suffered collapsed lungs and a punctured lung. He had a liver injury and currently, his ankle and feet are still swollen to the point where he still can’t walk,” attorney Daedrea Fenwick said.

Channel 2 has reached out to Dollar General for a response to the lawsuit. As of Wednesday morning, Channel 2 has not received a response.

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