A Dallas judge has denied a request by Amazon seeking dismissal of a lawsuit filed by a developmentally disabled Amazon warehouse employee who was abducted and sexually assaulted by her supervisor.
The May 20 ruling by 68th Judicial District Judge Martin Hoffman clears the way for discovery to proceed in the lawsuit. Based on the “loser pays” law used by Amazon to seek dismissal, the judge ordered Amazon to pay attorney fees for the work by Jackson Spencer Law attorneys responding to the company’s motion to dismiss.
“This is a critically important ruling that tells Amazon that they must answer for their actions under oath,” firm founder Jennifer Spencer said. “We look forward to proceeding with discovery to learn more so that we can ensure something like this does not happen again and to bring a measure of justice to our client and her family.”
In his order, Judge Hoffman rejected claims by Amazon that it was not liable for the actions of former warehouse safety supervisor Mario Carranza because those acts were not “foreseeable.” The company also claimed that the kidnapping and sexual assault were not the result of Amazon training failures.
According to the lawsuit, Amazon had already been on notice after other female workers filed complaints against Carranza regarding sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior. The company continued to employ him as a safety supervisor over Ashton, who was hired under a Texas Workforce Commission program for working adults with disabilities, according to the lawsuit. Instead of providing more detailed limits on her job duties, Amazon had specifically instructed Ashton to strictly follow whatever instructions she was given by whichever supervisor approached her when she arrived for work. Amazon’s training of Carranza also informed him that Ashton was required to go and do whatever he told her to.
According to the lawsuit, Mr. Carranza groomed the woman over several months to gain her confidence before abducting her after the woman’s father dropped her off for work in August 2023. She was taken to a nearby motel and sexually assaulted repeatedly. The lawsuit seeks damages for past and future physical and emotional pain and suffering, as well as mental anguish, medical expenses and loss of earning capacity, plus exemplary damages.
The case is Louis Williams, as legal guardian and next friend of Ashton Williams v. Amazon.com LLC et al., filed in Dallas County district court.
