Ashley licensee responds to wrongful death suit

Clint Engel -- Furniture Today, September 6, 2011

SAN ANTONIO — The Ashley Furniture HomeStores licensee here has responded to a wrongful death lawsuit regarding an employee shot and killed at the store, saying that key accusations in the suit are false.

Aileen Harbidge, an employee at one of Hill Country Holdings' three San Antonio-area stores, was killed in May. Another former employee, Jose Martinez, is in jail on the murder charge.

Harbidge's husband filed a lawsuit Sept. 2, alleging the store and its parent company were aware Harbidge had been threatened and assaulted previously by Martinez. The suit also claimed the store manager lent a gun to Martinez, who said he wanted to test it before buying one of his own.

In a Sept. 5 statement, Hill Country CEO Gary Seals called the situation "heartbreaking" and the lawsuit a "disappointing event."

"The allegation that we were aware that she previously had been assaulted by the assailant is completely false," he said. "Further, the allegation that our store manager had provided him with the murder weapon is also completely false."

Here is Seals' complete statement:

"This has been a heartbreaking situation which has affected all of us at Ashley Furniture HomeStore, and especially the many friends and colleagues of Aileen Harbidge. She was a valued member of our team at the Fiesta Store in San Antonio and her death was a shock to us all. Aileen always had a smile and a kind word for everyone. We miss her very much.

"Certainly, employee safety and security are important to all of us at Ashley Furniture HomeStore, and that made this event even more tragic.

"After Aileen's death, we reached out extensively to her family, offering our support and help in many ways. Our prayers are with them.

"This lawsuit is a disappointing event.

"While we are now in a litigation process, we must respond to some of the allegations in the lawsuit which simply are not true.

"The allegation that we were aware that she previously had been assaulted by the assailant is completely false. Further, the allegation that our store manager had provided him with the murder weapon is also completely false.

"Again, Aileen Harbidge was a vital member of the Ashley Furniture HomeStore team who had a positive impact on everyone - employees and customers. Her loss has touched us all, and we will remember her for her dedication, energy and talent that were taken away much too soon."