Attorneys representing the widow of a 57-year-old worker at an Amazon facility in Joliet believe her wrongful death lawsuit against the company will eventually go to a jury trial.
Linda Becker, the widow of Thomas Becker, filed her lawsuit against Amazon in federal court in May. She has accused the company of negligence over their response in the death of her husband, who died Jan. 23, 2017, after suffering a heart attack while working at the Amazon warehouse facility at 201 Emerald Drive in Joliet.
Attorneys with the Chicago law firm Lewis, Brisbois, Bisgaard and Smith are defending Amazon against the lawsuit. Amazon has denied Linda Becker’s allegations.
Linda Becker’s attorney, Mario Carlasare of law firm Rathbun, Cservenyak and Kozol, said in an email that Amazon’s attorneys have made no settlement offer in the case.
“We believe the case will proceed to jury trial and be successful,” Carlasare said.
Amazon attorney Charles Cole did not return calls for comment Monday.
A Joliet police officer responded to the Amazon warehouse on Emerald Drive shortly after 4 a.m. Jan. 23, 2017, according to police reports.
When the officer arrived, paramedics from the Joliet Fire Department were performing CPR on Thomas Becker, according to reports.
An Amazon employee told the officer that Thomas Becker was sitting in his chair and sweating profusely before his eyes “rolled in the back of his head and he fell backward off the chair,” according to reports, and the employees called 911 afterward.
Thomas Becker was taken to Amita Health Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, where he was pronounced dead after suffering a heart attack, according to reports.
Linda Becker’s lawsuit claims Amazon’s security personnel “needlessly delayed” the 911 call and the paramedics’ ability to reach her husband in time to save him.
Her suit also claims there were no working automated external defibrillators, throughout the facility although there were boxes for them.
Amazon denies the allegations in their response to Linda Becker’s lawsuit. In its response, the company claims “911 was timely contacted and paramedics responded.”
Amazon denies that Thomas Becker or his surviving family “have suffered any injury attributable” to the company.
