"A couple is suing Home Depot and the manufacturers of a grout sealing product for $111 million -- including a $1 million claim that the product destroyed their sex life. Jay Flynn of Lilburn, Ga., and his wife Laura, said that he became ill and was hospitalized for four days after using an allegedly defective batch of Tile Perfect Stand'N Seal Grout Sealer in July 2005." The suit asks a 10-to-1 ratio of punitive damages to compensatories. (AP/Gwinnett Daily Post, Jun. 15). Its damages demand aside, the suit may not count as particularly remarkable: "About 300,000 cans were recalled in August 2005 after 88 people complained of respiratory injuries, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Of those, 28 had to be rushed to hospitals. There are dozens of other lawsuits against the product manufacturer and Home Depot, including at least one wrongful death suit, said Frank Ilardi, the Flynns' attorney." (Lateef Mungin, "A love life worth a million dollars", Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Jun. 14).
$111 million demanded over grout fumes
![]() |
| Isaac Gorodetski Project Manager, Center for Legal Policy at the Manhattan Institute igorodetski@manhattan-institute.org |
![]() |
| Bridget Carroll Press Officer, Manhattan Institute bcarroll@manhattan-institute.org |



