Henry Walker says he shattered his hip buying a watermelon at Walmart. An Alabama jury awarded him $7.5 million.
Henry Walker
A worker pushes shopping carts in front of a Walmart store in La Habra  Calif. ( Jae C. Hong/AP)
Army veteran Henry Walker  was trying to buy a watermelon at a Walmart in Alabama when  his  foot got stuck in a wooden pallet. When  he  turned  the 59-year-old fell  breaking  his  hip.
 Walker  sued Walmart over the 2015 incident  and an Alabama jury has ruled that  he  should be awarded $7.5 million.
The incident unfolded June 25  2015  when  Walker  went to a Walmart store in Phenix City  Ala.  according to court documents.
 Walker  reached to pick a melon from a display  and  his  foot became lodged in the pallet under the watermelon container.  He  turned  unaware that the pallet was there  and fell and shattered  his  hip  court documents state.
 He  sued the retail giant on claims of negligence and wantonness. Attorneys presented the case Tuesday and Wednesday in Russell County Circuit Court.
The jury deliberated for about two hours late Wednesday before ruling in favor of  Walker   awarding him $2.5 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages.
âI think this jury appreciated what  Mr. Walker  went through and they compensated  him  accordingly â another one of  his  attorneys  David Rayfield  told the Ledger-Enquirer. âThis is a great verdict for the community because this jury wanted to make sure it was safe for shoppers.â
Jurors reviewed security footage from the store and saw that  Walker  wasnât the only person to get  his  foot stuck in the side openings of a wooden pallet on the floor  OâHara said.
OâHara told AL.com that the incident âcompletely changed  Henry Walker âs life.â Among other things  the Army veteran who used to play basketball three days a week now needs to use a walker  he said.
A worker pushes shopping carts in front of a Walmart store in La Habra  Calif. (  [TGT] 
was trying to buy a watermelon at a Walmart in Alabama when   [TGT]   foot got stuck in a wooden pallet. When   [TGT]   turned  the 59-year-old fell  breaking   [TGT]   hip.
  [TGT] sued Walmart over the 2015 incident  and an Alabama jury has ruled that   [TGT]   should be awarded $7.5 million.
The incident unfolded June 25  2015  when   [TGT] went to a Walmart store in Phenix City  Ala.  according to court documents.
  [TGT] reached to pick a melon from a display  and   [TGT]   foot became lodged in the pallet under the watermelon container.   [TGT]   turned  unaware that the pallet was there  and fell and shattered   [TGT]   hip  court documents state.
  [TGT]   sued the retail giant on claims of negligence and wantonness. Attorneys presented the case Tuesday and Wednesday in Russell County Circuit Court.
The jury deliberated for about two hours late Wednesday before ruling in favor of  [TGT] Walker   awarding  [TGT]  $2.5 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages.
âI think this jury appreciated what   [TGT] went through and they compensated   [TGT]   accordingly â another one of   [TGT]   attorneys  David Rayfield  told the Ledger-Enquirer. âThis is a great verdict for the community because this jury wanted to make sure it was safe for shoppers.â
Jurors reviewed security footage from the store and saw that   [TGT] wasnât the only person to get  his  foot stuck in the side openings of a wooden pallet on the floor  OâHara said.
OâHara told AL.com that the incident âcompletely changed   [TGT]  âs life.â Among other things  the Army veteran who used to play basketball three days a week now needs to use a walker   [TGT]  said.