Former HD Supply worker sues over forklift battery incident

A former HD Supply warehouse worker filed a federal lawsuit alleging a June 27, 2024 forklift battery incident at the GA02 Forest Park distribution center caused a serious back injury and that the company discriminated against and retaliated against him afterward. The complaint, filed pro se in November 2025 as civil case No. 1:25-cv-06567 in the Northern District of Georgia, seeks roughly $50 million across disability, race discrimination, retaliation and state-law claims.

Plaintiff Quinton J. Hall says a forklift battery overheated, produced smoke and effectively exploded, prompting the use of fire extinguishers. The court filing includes internal incident reports and witness statements, and Hall contends he sustained a back injury requiring accommodation. He alleges he was denied light-duty assignments that other employees received, was publicly accused of faking his injury and ultimately lost his job. The filing also refers to a later October 2025 battery and smoke incident at the same Forest Park facility.

HD Supply, a former subsidiary of The Home Depot, has filed early-stage motions in the case, including a partial motion to dismiss. The matter remains in early-stage litigation; motion practice is pending and portions of discovery are stayed while the court resolves threshold legal issues. Hall is proceeding without an attorney.

The Forest Park address appears in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration public enforcement database with a complaint inspection record that emphasizes powered-industrial-truck and forklift issues. That OSHA entry documents an inspection related to complaints but does not resolve the civil-law allegations or the merits of the lawsuit.

For warehouse workers and distribution center employees, the suit highlights several workplace issues that can affect daily operations and individual careers: battery and charging area safety for powered industrial trucks, reporting and documentation of injuries, the availability and assignment of light-duty work, and how employers handle suspected malingering or disability-related restrictions. Allegations of public accusations and unequal assignment of light-duty work underscore the potential for workplace conflict to escalate into discrimination and retaliation claims.

Employees who believe they have been injured or mistreated should preserve medical records, incident reports, witness statements and any written communications about the injury or work restrictions. Be mindful of administrative deadlines for filing discrimination and retaliation charges with agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and consult an employment attorney or advocates familiar with workplace accommodation and retaliation claims to understand options.

As the case proceeds through motion practice and potential discovery, it could prompt closer scrutiny of powered-industrial-truck safety and accommodation practices at large distribution centers and influence how employers document and respond to injury claims.