McEwen and other employees were ordered to keep working when they should have been evacuated as the tornadoes were approaching, according to the wrongful death complaint filed in Madison County Circuit Court.
"It's very clear that there could be a profits over safety argument in this case, that Amazon was more concerned, during its peak delivery season, with keeping its production lines running," the plaintiff's attorney, Jack J. Casciato, told reporters Monday."This facility could have easily shut down for the day.
The facility struck Dec. 10 is less the four years old and was"in compliance with all applicable building codes," making continued work that day appropriate, Amazon spokeswoman Kelly Nantel said. "Severe weather watches are common in this part of the country and, while precautions are taken, are not cause for most businesses to close down," she added.It’s believed to be the first lawsuit against Amazon, stemming from the Dec. 10 tornadoes that struck Edwardsville., and hoped to start a family someday with his girlfriend of five years, his mother, Alice McEwen, said.The estate is asking for more than $50,000 in damages, but the lawsuit otherwise did not name a specific amount.