Stack 'Em High Proves Costly

The old big-box merchandising adage of “stack 'em high and watch 'em fly” seems to have cost The Home Depot (Atlanta) a lot of money. The big-box home-improvement retailer has been ordered to pay $1.45 million to a Baton Rouge, La., customer who had a 70 pound bag of sand fall on top of him from an overhead rack. The retailer said it plans to appeal the decision.

A Louisiana jury found Home Depot Inc. guilty of negligence for the accident, which occurred in February 1998, and reportedly caused Patrick Avery to suffer a herniated cervical disc, sprained right hand, lumbar strain and dental injuries. Three consumers have been killed by falling stock in Home Depot stores since 1999.