A Palm Beach County resident has filed a lawsuit against a major home improvement retailer, alleging severe injury due to a defective product. On July 18, 2024, Marshall Stephens filed a complaint in the Circuit Court of the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County, Florida, against Home Depot U.S.A., Inc.

According to the complaint, Stephens purchased an HDX FPR 5 air filter from Home Depot Store No. 0205 located at 4241 Lake Worth Road, Lake Worth, Florida on or around May 18, 2023. The incident that led to the lawsuit occurred on June 4, 2023, when Stephens was removing the air filter from its housing at his home. The metal mesh on the outside of the air filter allegedly caused a severe laceration to his middle finger on his dominant right hand.

Stephens claims that as a direct result of this injury, he has suffered permanent bodily harm resulting in pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, mental anguish, loss of earnings and earning capacity, and loss of enjoyment of life. He also incurred expenses for hospitalization and medical care. These damages are described as either permanent or continuing in nature.