Joplin

JOPLIN, Mo. — The family of a man killed inside the Wal-Mart Supercenter on Range Line Road during the May 22, 2011, tornado has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against the Arkansas corporation and the store’s manager.Janice Kirk and Jodelle Kirk, both of Joplin, are listed as plaintiffs in a lawsuit that was filed July 31 in Jasper County Circuit Court and transferred Friday to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri. They are the wife and daughter, respectively, of Stanley Kirk, 62, an aircraft engine technician who died as a result of injuries suffered during the EF-5 tornado that led to the deaths of 161 people.The lawsuit names as defendants Wal-Mart Stores Inc., which operates Wal-Mart Supercenter Store No. 59, 1501 S. Range Line Road in Joplin, as well as the Joplin store’s manager, Andy Martin.Janice Kirk and Jodelle Kirk did not respond to a message from the Globe seeking comment Saturday afternoon. Their Joplin-based attorneys, Ed Hershewe and Ashley Norman, also could not be reached for comment.In response to a Globe request, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. issued a one-paragraph statement Saturday through Randy Hargrove, the company’s director of national media relations: “We extend our deepest sympathy to Mr. Kirk’s family. This was a horrible tragedy for Joplin. Walmart is committed to this community, and we have worked hard to help rebuild after this tragic event. We have protocols in place for severe weather, and the safety plan our associates implemented helped save lives. We stand behind our associates and how they handled this natural disaster.”The Globe asked Wal-Mart for details about its emergency plans in the event of a tornado, but Hargrove said he could not comment beyond the statement.According to [...]