SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA CO. (WOLF) — The family of a Lowe’s employee who was shot and killed by a coworker earlier this year has filed a wrongful-death lawsuit alleging the company ignored repeated warnings that the victim feared for his safety.
The suit, filed Monday in Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas by the Philadelphia-based law firm Ross Feller Casey, LLP, contends that Lowe’s “recklessly failed” to protect 44-year-old Jeffrey Moeller Jr. from what the complaint describes as more than a year of escalating harassment and alarming behavior by fellow employee Christopher Wasnetsky. Moeller was killed inside the Scranton store on June 14.
According to the complaint, Moeller repeatedly told supervisors—both verbally and in writing—that he believed Wasnetsky posed a threat not only to him but to others in the store. The filing asserts that management assured Moeller his concerns would be addressed, but never followed through with any protective measures. The lawsuit also cites an email Wasnetsky allegedly sent to company management shortly before the shooting in which he stated the company “could have prevented” Moeller’s death.
Joel J. Feller, a founding partner at Ross Feller Casey who represents the Moeller family along with attorney Scott S. Berger Jr., said the shooting was the culmination of a long-ignored crisis.
“Lowe’s ignored its most basic and fundamental responsibility for workplace safety,” Feller said. “The company knew about the targeted and intensifying personal vendetta against Jeffrey, along with Wasnetsky’s deteriorating behavior. Even Wasnetsky told management that his anger toward Jeffrey was escalating and affecting his mental health.”
Feller added that Moeller “endured unspeakable and unfounded harassment while simply trying to do his job” and sought help that never came. “If Lowe’s had taken even the most basic steps—steps any responsible employer would take—Jeffrey Moeller would be alive today, and his three daughters would still have their father.”
The Moeller family, he said, is seeking accountability and change. “Our legal team will work tirelessly to bring justice to this broken family and help ensure that no other employee or family faces a similar tragedy.”
Moeller is survived by his wife, Keisha, and their three young daughters, ages 11, 8, and 6. His family describes him as a devoted husband and father whose loss has left them emotionally shattered and financially strained. They are requesting privacy as they continue to grieve.
In a statement, a Lowe’s spokesperson responded:
“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.”