A Palm Beach County resident has filed a lawsuit against a major home improvement retailer, claiming negligence after suffering injuries from a slip and fall incident at one of its stores. On February 28, 2025, Nile McDermott lodged a complaint in the Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County, Florida, against Home Depot U.S.A., Inc.

The case revolves around an unfortunate event that occurred on August 19, 2024. McDermott was shopping as a business invitee in the outdoor garden section of Home Depot’s Boca Raton location when he slipped and fell due to water accumulation on the floor. The plaintiff asserts that this hazardous condition was caused by Home Depot employees watering plants without adequately managing the resulting wet conditions. McDermott’s complaint outlines multiple counts of negligence against Home Depot, including statutory negligence, negligent construction, and negligent design.

McDermott accuses Home Depot of failing to maintain its premises in a safe condition and neglecting to warn customers about potential dangers. “Defendant breached its duty of care by negligently causing or contributing to the liquid substance on the floor,” states the complaint. Furthermore, McDermott alleges that Home Depot did not take reasonable steps to inspect or rectify the dangerous conditions or provide adequate warnings such as wet-floor signs.