WEST VIRGINIA RECORD

CHARLESTON -- A Huntington man is suing Home Depot for injuries he sustained while installing a countertop.

Continental Surfaces of Charleston was also named as a defendant in the suit.

On April 9, 2010, Michael Chapman was installing granite countertops at a home in Ohio for the defendants, according to a complaint filed March 14 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Chapman, who was employed by Continental and was contracted to work as a laborer for Home Depot, claims while he was carrying a countertop with a coworker, his "path was obstructed and the 400-pound countertop was dropped, pinning him against a wall."

Continental failed to train its employees on proper lifting techniques for lifting and installing heavy countertops within the scope of their employment and/or otherwise failed to employ adequate labor to complete the task, according to the suit.

Chapman claims he sustained serious injuries, including herniated and bulging discs that require surgery; tremendous pain and suffering; psychological trauma; loss of wages; loss of earning capacity; loss of ability to perform household services; loss of ability to enjoy life; humiliation; embarrassment; annoyance and inconvenience; and economic and non-economic damages.

The defendants had a duty to provide a reasonably safe workplace and failed to do so, according to the suit.

Chapman is seeking compensatory damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. He is being represented by Robert B. Warner and Tammy Bowles Raines.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Carrie Webster.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 12-C-467