GALVESTON — A Seabrook customer is suing Home Depot and other providers of a drain cleaning device, alleging negligence led to the plaintiff suffering a severe finger injury.
Joe S. Butcher filed a lawsuit Aug. 30 in Galveston County District Court against The Home Depot USA Inc., doing business as The Home Depot, Electric Eel Manufacturing Company Inc., Carolyn Lyon and Melvin James Roettger, alleging failure to properly test equipment defects.
According to the complaint, on June 24, 2015, Butcher rented an Electric Eel drain cleaning device from the defendants. The suit says when Butcher began using the Electric Eel to unclog a drain in the ground, the cable coil suddenly kinked and began spiraling out of control. The lawsuit states this caused the coil to violently jerk and catch Butcher's hand, causing one of his fingers to be severely injured.
The plaintiff alleges the defendants defectively designed, manufactured, and marketed the Electric Eel drain cleaner, failed to provide any instruction manual and failed to warn Butcher of the hazard and danger of using the Electric Eel.
Butcher seeks trial by jury, monetary between $200,000 and $1 million, pre- and post-judgment interest, costs of court and all other relief. He is represented by attorney Gregory W. Allen of Houston.
Galveston County District Court Case number 16-CV-1015