NEW ORLEANS - A St. Tammany Parish man sued Home Depot and its insurance company in the St. Tammany Parish District Court last year after a gas auger malfunctioned and sliced his ankle, and the companies on March 4 moved the case to New Orleans federal court.
Plaintiff Miguel Martin rented a gas auger from the Home Depot on Service Road in Slidell for drilling fence post holes in July 2019. Martin says he powered on the auger and began to operate it, at which point the gas throttle power cycled.
The auger's blade then spun erratically despite Martin not touching the throttle; as a result, the blade sliced into the plaintiff's left ankle, causing a deep gash that required medical attention, the suit says.
Martin is suing Home Depot and its insurer for its negligence and breach of contract in properly inspecting and maintaining the gas auger. He is requesting damages including medical fee reimbursement.
Martin is represented by Wynne and Goux Attorneys at Law LLC of Covington.