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Home Depot called arrogant, ordered to pay ex-Boca Raton inventor millions more

danarhea

danarhea

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WEST PALM BEACH — When a Home Depot executive was told inventor Michael Powell might have a claim against the hardware giant for stealing an invention that keeps store employees safe, his reaction was swift and vulgar.

"(Expletive) Michael Powell," the executive said. "Let him sue us."
The crass response typifies the company's attitude toward Powell, who crafted an simple, yet ingenious, way to keep Home Depot employees from slicing off their fingers while they're cutting wood for customers, a federal judge said Monday.

"Home Depot knew exactly what it was doing," U.S. District Judge Daniel Hurley said. "They simply pushed Mr. Powell away and they did it totally and completely for their own economic benefit."

Calling the company callous and arrogant, he ordered it to pay the former Boca Raton man $3 million in punitive damages. That's on top of the $15 million a jury in March said the company should pay him for stealing his so-called "Safe Hands" gadget that is now affixed to radial saws at nearly 2,000 Home Depots nationwide.
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You know, if Home Depot had just agreed to purchase Mr. Powell's invention, they would have paid out only $4,000,000.00 instead of the $18,000,000.00 it is costing them now. Which goes to show you that honesty pays, dishonesty and arrogance does not.

I am glad I read this article. I am going to do my home improvement shopping exclusively at Lowe's from now on.

Home Depot: "**** Michael Powell"

DanaRhea: "**** Home Depot"

Article is here.
 
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Karma is a bitch. Companies really can be slime sucking dirtbags. Look, if a dude invents a machine that keeps your employees from cutting limbs off, pay the dude. Like anyone who deals "honestly and fairly" with people would do. But no, instead you steal it and tell him to **** off. How about this: You **** off and hand him $18.0MM while you are at it. Perfect.
 
danarhea said:
You know, if Home Depot had just agreed to purchase Mr. Powell's invention, they would have paid out only $4,000,000.00 instead of the $18,000,000.00 it is costing them now. Which goes to show you that honesty pays, dishonesty and arrogance does not.

I am glad I read this article. I am going to do my home improvement shopping exclusively at Lowe's from now on.

Home Depot: "**** Michael Powell"

DanaRhea: "**** Home Depot"

Article is here.
Click to expand...

Justice has been served. :cool:
 
danarhea said:
You know, if Home Depot had just agreed to purchase Mr. Powell's invention, they would have paid out only $4,000,000.00 instead of the $18,000,000.00 it is costing them now. Which goes to show you that honesty pays, dishonesty and arrogance does not.

I am glad I read this article. I am going to do my home improvement shopping exclusively at Lowe's from now on.

Home Depot: "**** Michael Powell"

DanaRhea: "**** Home Depot"

Article is here.
Click to expand...

The service at Home Depot has been going down for years.

Lowes is much better in my opinion.
 
And if they don't pay up quickly and lose on appeal (and they will) tack on another few million just to be a dick.
 
I loved this quote from Arthur Blank, co-founder of Home Depot, on the Wikipedia page.

"Bernie and I founded [The Home Depot] with a special vision -- to create a company that would keep alive the values that were important to us. Values like respect among all people, excellent customer service and giving back to communities and society."
 
danarhea said:
You know, if Home Depot had just agreed to purchase Mr. Powell's invention, they would have paid out only $4,000,000.00 instead of the $18,000,000.00 it is costing them now. Which goes to show you that honesty pays, dishonesty and arrogance does not.

I am glad I read this article. I am going to do my home improvement shopping exclusively at Lowe's from now on.

Home Depot: "**** Michael Powell"

DanaRhea: "**** Home Depot"

Article is here.
Click to expand...

Well, serves them right.

I'm still going to shop there as a faithful customer since they're the only home improvement box store within 30 minutes of where I live - the next one over is Lowe's and they suck as an individual store.
 
Manc Skipper said:
I loved this quote from Arthur Blank, co-founder of Home Depot, on the Wikipedia page.

"Bernie and I founded [The Home Depot] with a special vision -- to create a company that would keep alive the values that were important to us. Values like respect among all people, excellent customer service and giving back to communities and society."
Click to expand...

Irony is a bitch, ain't it? LOL.
 
Manc Skipper said:
I loved this quote from Arthur Blank, co-founder of Home Depot, on the Wikipedia page.

"Bernie and I founded [The Home Depot] with a special vision -- to create a company that would keep alive the values that were important to us. Values like respect among all people, excellent customer service and giving back to communities and society."
Click to expand...

Note for the record that Arthur Blank does not run Home Depot or have anything to do with its operations. This is not on him. Just to be accurate. He's Ted Turner, i.e. done with the company he founded.
 
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