USA 
United Kingdom
The wife of a man fatally shot by a co-worker at a Pennsylvania Lowe’s earlier this year has sued the retailer, alleging management failed to address escalating hostility and safety concerns despite repeated warnings.
The lawsuit, filed Monday in the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas, names Lowe’s as a defendant in the death of Jeffrey Moeller Jr., who was killed on June 14 at a store near Scranton. Police have said Christopher Wasnetsky shot Moeller at the workplace.
According to the complaint, Lowe’s showed a “conscious disregard” for Moeller’s safety, despite assurances from management that steps would be taken to protect him. The suit claims the company was aware for more than a year of “intensifying targeted personal animosity and harassment” directed at Moeller by Wasnetsky.
“For over a year before Mr. Moeller’s entirely preventable death, Lowe’s "knew" that Wasnetsky harbored deep personal animosity toward Moeller, that his anger was escalating, and that Moeller believed the situation posed a safety risk, the complaint states.
Claims of hostile work environment
Plaintiff attorneys from Philadelphia law firm Ross Feller Casey wrote that Moeller repeatedly raised “serious safety concerns” with supervisors and asked them to “take immediate action” to address what he described as targeted harassment.
Podcast | EMD, HSA Bank: The life-changing power of adoption assistance benefits
The lawsuit alleges Wasnetsky also expressed concerns to management, saying he was “physically shaking with anger” and that he “couldn’t sleep … because he was making me so angry.” According to the filing, Wasnetsky told Lowe’s the conflict was harming his mental health.
“Prior to the shooting, Lowe’s was fully aware of Mr. Wasnetsky’s deteriorating behavior and escalating personal animosity,” attorneys Joel J. Feller and Scott S. Berger Jr. wrote. They added that management “acknowledged and understood that something needed to be done to protect the safety and wellbeing of Mr. Moeller.”
The precise origin of the dispute remains unclear. The lawsuit said Wasnetsky accused Moeller of actions including going through his personal belongings, blocking him with a forklift, and altering computer settings “just to annoy him.” Management later determined those claims were unfounded, according to the filing.
Moeller warned supervisors by email that Wasnetsky posed a “significant risk to himself or others” and described the situation as a “hostile work environment.”
Employer response and legal context
The complaint argues Lowe’s had several options to reduce risk, including separating shifts, transferring Wasnetsky to another store, or terminating his employment, but failed to act.
“Based on Mr. Wasnetsky’s escalating conduct and statements, Lowe’s and its managers knew or should have known” that he was becoming increasingly unstable and dangerous, the lawsuit states.
In a statement to local media, Lowe’s said: “The safety of our associates and customers is our top priority, and we are deeply saddened by this senseless act of violence. Lowe’s takes all safety concerns seriously and has been fully cooperating with local law enforcement in their investigation. Because this is now active litigation, we do not plan to comment further on the lawsuit.”
Court records cited by local media also indicate Wasnetsky emailed human resources before the shooting, claiming the incident would not have occurred if his prior complaints had been addressed.
