MSNBC's Keith Olbermann has been railing Wal-Mart for suing a former employee to recover $470,000 in medical expenses. Debbie Shank, suffered serious brain damage after getting hit by a truck on the job.

She won a settlement, but now Wal-Mart has fought to get the money back, receiving $277,000 of the original settlement. After the company was named "Worst Person in the World" several nights in a row on Olbermann's show, Wal-Mart felt it was time to respond.

Women's Wear Daily/Memo Pad's Stephanie D. Smith has the response from Wal-Mart's corporate communications director, Daphne Moore.

"This is a very sad case and we understand that people will naturally have an emotional and sympathetic reaction. While the Shank case involves a tragic situation, the reality is that the health plan is required to protect its assets so that it can pay the future claims of other associates and their family members. These plans are funded by associate premiums and company contributions. Any money recovered is returned to the health plan, not to the business. This is done out of fairness to everyone who contributes to and benefits from the plan. The Supreme Court recently declined to hear an appeal of the case, which concludes all litigation. While Wal-Mart's benefit plan was entitled to more than the amount that remained in the Shank trust, the plan only recovered the funds remaining in that trust," which according to reports amounted to about $277,000.