A lawsuit against Amazon demands accountability from the e-commerce giant and justice for two of its Amazon Flex drivers who were shot in Atlanta while making deliveries.
Civil rights attorney Ben Crump and co-counsel Hilliard Martinez Gonzales announced that they filed a lawsuit Wednesday (March 23) on behalf of the injured drivers, Eduardo Gutierrez and Lawyer Denson, who is now paralyzed.
According to the lawsuit, among other things, Amazon failed to provide company-branded materials, such as safety vests with Amazon’s logo, to the independent drivers that would identify them as Amazon workers. It seeks at least $400 million in damages.
“These two men were seriously injured while working for Amazon, one of the largest and wealthiest businesses in the world. Amazon has a moral obligation to do more to protect its employees,” Crump stated.
BET.com contacted Amazon, but the company did not comment directly on the lawsuit.
Spokewoman Kelly Nantel said, “We’re aware of this terrible incident, and express our deepest sympathies to the two drivers involved. In addition, we offer our support to them both and to law enforcement as they investigate these crimes.”
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On Jan. 13 at about 7 p.m., Gutierrez delivered a package to Keontae Guthridge’s residence in Northwest Atlanta, the lawsuit states. Guthridge allegedly fired five times at Gutierrez as he walked back to his vehicle. Four bullets struck the car and one hit his stomach.
Later that evening, Denson delivered packages to the same address, according to the lawsuit. Guthridge allegedly fired at him, hitting the driver’s spinal cord. Paramedics transported him to Grady Memorial Hospital.
Both men survived their