CVS employee sues after knife attack leaves her jaw broken and she is terminated
A CVS worker in Manhattan’s SoHo was assaulted by a knife-wielding individual, suffered a shattered jaw, and was fired shortly after filing a workers' compensation claim.
During a night shift at a CVS location in Manhattan’s upscale SoHo district, employee Abigail Downey intervened when an unstable shopper attacked shoppers and a security guard, resulting in a knife wound that shattered her jaw and impaired her ability to chew. After filing a workers' compensation claim for the injury, Downey was dismissed within 24 hours, with management accusing her of escalating workplace violence and referencing a personal taser she allegedly carried.
Her lawsuit contends the firing was retaliatory, pointing to inadequate security focused on merchandise protection rather than employee safety, and names both CVS and the contracted security firm. Downey claims the store was known for frequent theft and chaos, and she now works for a competing pharmacy. CVS declined to comment on the allegations.
Why it matters
The case highlights concerns over employee safety, corporate retaliation, and security policies in retail environments.
In this story