Home Depot Rental Contract Spares It From Drain Snake Suit

Home Depot U.S.A. Inc. fought off a product liability suit by a man who injured his hand and shoulder when using a snaking electric drain cleaner.

Home Depot’s rental contract protects it, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois ruled Feb. 12. It rejected several arguments that the protective clause is unenforceable.

Electric Eel Manufacturing Co., which made the product, also isn’t liable to Calvin Horne, the court said.

Horne went to Home Depot to rent a drain cleaner to fix his backed-up sewer drain, according to the court. The machine he rented was allegedly older-looking than ...