HOUSTON — A Harris County man is suing Home Depot and Black & Decker, alleging their negligence caused injuries to the plaintiff. .
Ralph Matthews filed a complaint April 19 in Harris County Circuit Court against Home Depot USA, Inc., and Stanley Black & Decker alleging the defendants failed to maintain the premises in a reasonably safe condition.
According to the complaint, on Sept. 8, 2016, while Matthews, 76, was entering the front entrance of the Home Deport store at Hillcroft Street in Houston, the automatic door closed on him and his walker, causing him to fall. As a result, Matthews says he suffered a hip fracture that required surgery. The suit says Black & Decker was the maintenance contractor for the store.
The plaintiff alleges the defendants failed to investigate, repair or warn invitees about the condition of the automatic doors and failed to maintain the automatic doors in a reasonably safe condition, including the motion detectors and optical sensors.
Matthews seeks trial by jury, judgment of more than $1 million for actual damages, plus pre- and post-judgment interest, costs of court and all other just relief. He is represented by attorney Alton C. Todd of The Law Firm of Alton C. Todd in Friendswood.
Harris County Circuit Court Case number 2017-26000