WinCo Foods review: Winco’s negligence changed my life forever

WINCO’s negligence changed my life forever, and they still refuse to take responsibility for the harm they caused. Because of the traumatic brain injury I suffered, I lost my job, my stability, and even my home. I was publicly humiliated due to an unreasonable detention by the South Salt Lake Police. They made me sit on a curb in public as they investigated the alleged crime.

They detained me due to a lie (or reckless reporting by WINCO) as far as a previous trespass that was allegedly served on me prior, but this was NOT true. I believe this was done so they could serve me and ACTUAL trespass order for 100 years.

My memory, my ability to learn, and my capacity to retain new information have all been diminished. Everyday tasks that used to be simple now feel overwhelming, and functioning in a workplace has become almost impossible.

Losing my home was devastating. After investing over $100,000.00 into my forever home, I had to sell it to avoid losing it due to lack of payment, I lost my 2.8% interest rate as well, so a new home at 7% is out of the question.

I also had to sell my brand‑new Dodge Ram 1500 Warlock because I could no longer afford the payments. I’ve been waiting over a year for long‑term disability, trying to survive while thousands of dollars in medical bills are in collections. The total was around $75,000, and I had to fight just to get some of it reduced or settled. It’s been exhausting, frightening, and deeply unfair.

To make everything even harder, WINCO banned me from all of their properties for 100 years. A century. After everything I’ve already been through, they added humiliation and exclusion on top of my injury. They even sent me a cease‑and‑desist letter, telling me to basically stop speaking out (In my opinion). In my heart, I believe this was because of the peaceful protesting I do on the outskirts of their property — protest that is protected by my right to free speech. I believe WINCO is sick of my protests and are trying to kill my free speech.

Three attorneys have worked on my case, but Utah’s laws are stacked so heavily in favor of corporations that none of them felt they could take it to court. I was told by these attorneys that if we sued in Boise, Idaho, where WINCO is based, they would have taken it to court. I’ve been left to fight this battle largely on my own, with the help of friends and family to help me navigate through the barriers that were not there prior, despite the life‑altering consequences I’ve suffered.

I created a Facebook group called “WINCO SUCKS” to share my story and document this painful journey. It’s an opinion page — my voice, my experience, my truth.

WINCO issued a cease‑and‑desist letter partly because of that page, but I will not be silenced. My right to speak, to protest, and to share what happened to me is protected, and I intend to continue using my voice.

This has been one of the hardest chapters of my life. I’m still standing, still fighting, and still speaking out — not just for myself, but for anyone who has ever been harmed, ignored, or pushed aside by a corporation that refuses to do what’s right.

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