Home Depot sued after customer trips over rod in shopping cart

A Tangipahoa Parish man has filed a lawsuit against a home improvement store after he tripped and fell over a rod that was left in a shopping cart.

Clifford Autin filed suit against The Home Depot U.S.A. Inc. on June 8, 2011 in St. John Parish District Court. The defendant removed the case to federal court in New Orleans on Aug. 18.

The alleged incident occurred on May 4.

The defendant is accused of negligence for breaching its duty to its customers to provide safe premises, failing to take proper precautions or actions to rid its premises of injurious conditions and failing to timely or properly inspect the premises for defects or hazards.

The plaintiff is seeking damages for medical expenses, physical pain and suffering, bodily injury, loss of income, loss of enjoyment of life, disability, court costs and interest.

Autin is represented by George R. Tucker of Tucker and Associates in Hammond.

U.S. District Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon is assigned to the case.

Case No. 2:11-cv-02042