Coles shopping trolley woes in 2 court cases
Two different court cases involving shopping trolleys have lobbed big bills on the supermarket giant Coles.
Coles has been ordered by the Supreme Court of New South Wales to pay $500,000 to a woman who was struck by a heavy trolley pushed by a Coles employee. This incident perpetually damaged her hip and allegedly stopped her from adopting a child.
Coles had appealed against an earlier judgment of the NSW District Court which had awarded the woman $500,000. However, Coles lost the appeal.
The earlier court hearing had included evidence that Ms Haleluka was unable to a adopt a foster child her and her husband had been taking care of, due to the physical pain in her right hip and inability to perform household chores.
In another court case but a situation nonetheless involving shopping trolleys, Coles has appeared in the Federal Court trying to stop court action by The Fair Work Ombudsman who says Coles is liable for $300,000 underpayment of its employees.
Ten trolley collectors at the West Lakes, Elizabeth, Craigmore, Munno Para and Gawler in Adelaide Coles stores were alleged to have been underpaid last year. Trolley collecting employees were reportedly receiving half of what they were entitled to, according to The Fair Work Ombudsman.
Meanwhile, trolleys can cost over $600 each to replace if they contain a child seat, causing ongoing difficulties for supermarkets over the years. Earlier this year, Australian Food News reported on the various strategies being undertaken by supermarkets and grocers to collect abandoned trolleys.
