Brian Hamlin
The Reporter
December 9, 2008

Editor: Never underestimate the power of the media!

Dollar Tree Inc. has agreed to compensate the 11-year-old son of one of its store clerks who was stabbed to death in a Fairfield Dollar Tree Store two years ago, despite the fact that the company's insurance carrier rejected the claim.

The payment, $250,000, is equivalent to the full Workers' Compensation benefit permitted under California law, said Timothy Reid, a vice president of investor relations for Dollar Tree.

Taneka Talley was slain on March 20, 2006, while working in the North Texas Street branch of the discount chain store. A West Sacramento man, 45-year-old Tommy Joe Thompson, later was arrested and charged with murder for the knife slaying. He's currently awaiting trial in Solano County Superior Court.

Talley left behind a son, Larry, and the insurance carrier for Dollar Tree, ACE USA, subsequently denied payment of workers' compensation death benefits for the boy, arguing that Talley had been killed because of her race rather than her duties for Dollar Tree.

The insurance company's decision was based, in part, on a court-ordered psychiatrist's report on Thompson's mental competency which indicated that Thompson may have stabbed Talley to death simply because she was black.

The denial of benefits brought action from the Oakland law firm of Boxer & Gerson and set off a community controversy that culminated in a Nov. 30 protest outside the Fairfield Dollar Tree store.

On Monday, Reid told The Reporter that Dollar Tree itself had offered to pay the full Workers' Compensation benefit amount.

"Taneka Talley was the victim of a despicable crime," Reid said in an e-mail. "While we were advised that the claim would not be covered under the state Workers' Compensation law, we feel this is the right thing to do for Taneka's son."

Jean Hyams, an attorney with Boxer & Gerson, confirmed that "confidential settlement discussions are ongoing" but did not comment on specifics.

"We are pleased that public pressure has brought Dollar Tree to the table, and we are ready to respond positively to any offer that represents the full value of the benefits due to Taneka Talley's son," Hyams said in a prepared statement.

Carol Frazier, the boy's grandmother and legal guardian, said Monday afternoon that she had not yet heard from Dollar Tree, but hoped to be in contact with them soon.