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• May 16, 2008 7:36 am US/Eastern
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  Publix Employee Says He Was Attacked By Manager

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Publix Employee Says He Was Attacked By Manager

MIAMI SHORES (CBS4) ― If Publix had a choice you would not be seeing the surveillance video in this story, shot inside its Miami Shores store.

In it you can see the store's general manager pick up a cart and throw it at an employee. The video was recently released as evidence in a civil, and now criminal case, against the grocery store.

"That day if he had a gun he could of shot me that day," said Robert Rouchon.

The 13 year veteran employee of the store says he was answering his manager's call for help at the store's loading dock, when he was delayed by a customer. He says general manager Curt Leonor lost his temper.

"When I looked I saw blood, and I said oh no," said Rouchon. "He left, went back up front, and I said Curt look what you did to me. And he said, he looked and said, 'That's crap. That's nothing.'"

Things got worse for Rouchon when Publix allegedly appeared to cover up for the manager. In a workman's comp report filed by Publix, they called the incident an accident, in which "cases from a loaded float cart fell over and hit left leg." The video clearly shows that's not what happened.

"There is a cover-up here," said attorney Jason St. Fleur. "There is a cover-up to keep the man that brings in the business for them."

When attorney Jason St. Fleur got involved, Publix didn't fire the general manager. Instead they moved him to a store on Miami Beach—
all the while Rouchon says they tried to bribe him.

"[They said] I'm going to take care of you," said Rouchon. "I'm going to promote you."

St. Fleur believes Publix is protecting the general manager because of his ability to run million dollar stores. He wonders if this had been the other way around—Rouchon throwing the cart--would he still have his job.

The general manager is being charged with culpable negligence.

Publix is not commenting on the case.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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