Salier et al v. Walmart, Inc. et al

On January 13, 2022, William Salier and Karla Salier, (“Plaintiffs”), represented by Marjorie J. Holsten of Marjorie J. Holsten, filed a contract lawsuit against Walmart, Inc. (hereinafter, “Walmart”) and Hy-Vee, Inc., (collectively “Defendants”), seeking compensatory and punitive damages for allegedly denying patients life-saving medicine, and forcing them to take horse paste to save their lives. This case was filed in the U.S. District Court in the District of Minnesota.

In the complaint Plaintiffs alleged that, “On October 1, 2021, William Salier began to feel sick. Like any reasonable citizen, he obtained a COVID-19 test, which revealed that he was sick with COVID-19. As a former Marine and farmer who has always cared for himself physically, William Salier quarantined himself for what he assumed would be a quick recovery. COVID-19, however, had different plans. Within a few days, William Salier found himself bed-ridden. He lost all sense of taste or smell, and he quickly began to experience severe shortness of breath. As his condition steadily worsened, William and Karla Salier began to seek treatment. They applied for monoclonal antibody treatments through the Minnesota Resource Allocation Platform, but their requests went unanswered.”

Plaintiffs further alleged that, “After further research and significant persistence, the Saliers obtained a telehealth appointment with Dr. Mollie James. Dr. James quickly realized that William’s condition was extremely serious and that he was on the verge of requiring intensive care unit treatment, which would leave him with less than a 50% chance of survival, unless he received effective treatment immediately. She wrote William a prescription for several treatments including Ivermectin, and she sent it to the Walmart pharmacy in Albert Lea, Minnesota. Walmart’s pharmacist called Karla Salier to inform her that Walmart refused to fill Dr. James’ prescription of Ivermectin, stating that it was not appropriate to treat COVID-19 patients with it. Karla Salier informed him that her husband was seriously ill and pleaded with him to fill the prescription according to their doctor’s orders and he again refused to fill the prescription.”

Plaintiff also alleged that, “After calculating the appropriate dosage according to the guidance that Dr. James gave them, Salier and his wife mixed the dosage of horse paste into dishes of apple sauce and consumed it in multiple doses just as they would consume a regular medication. Within 24 hours of regularly consuming Ivermectin horse paste, Salier and his wife noticed a rapid and significant improvement in their conditions. After a week of consistently self-treating themselves with Ivermectin horse paste, both had recovered sufficiently to resume their normal activities with some moderate limitations. After two weeks, both had resumed their normal lives. Neither William or Karla Salier experienced any negative health problems from Dr. James’ prescriptions.”

There are twelve claims for relief laid down by Plaintiffs. All claims deal with violation of Plaintiff's common law right to self determination, intentional infliction of emotional distress on Plaintiffs, and tortious interference with contractual relations on behalf of Plaintiffs caused by Defendants. 

In their prayer for relief Plaintiffs have requested the court for compensatory damages, punitive damages, costs, attorneys’ fees, and such other relief as the court deems fair and equitable.

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