Trampled at Wal-Mart -- or Trampling Wal-Mart?

Chances are good that you've already heard about the woman down in Florida who was reportedly knocked unconscious by fellow shoppers, all rushing to get $29 DVD players the moment Wal-Mart opening the Friday after Thanksgiving. It was the story of the post-Thanksgiving weekend -- and a way of capturing everything that is wrong with us in a single moment.

Chances are less good that you've heard the follow-up story: That the woman who was "trampled" has a long history of filing injury claims against Wal-Mart and other companies. She has not, in fact, filed any claim in the most recent incident. But her prior history is illuminating and was uncovered in a remarkable piece of vigorous reporting by a Florida TV station.

Unfortunately, while the TV station's report changes the nature of the "story" we thought we all heard, it doesn't necessarily change the fact that this tale could be an indicator of some of the things wrong with America.

For those interested in how the TV station, WKMG-Orlando, tracked down the woman's story, an interview that explains it is available.