NASCAR sponsor fined $9.9 million

Home Depot agreed Friday to pay nearly $10 million to settle a civil case filed by state and Los Angeles County prosecutors over the retailer's failure to properly store and transport hazardous sludge.

The case stems from the explosion of a 55-gallon drum at Home Depot's Marina del Rey store in 2004 that caused a fire and forced the evacuation of customers and employees. Investigators discovered that chemicals were mixed together into an explosive brew.

State Atty. Gen. Jerry Brown said that his office was looking at other companies, including "some big, large names," and that he expected the settlement to act as a deterrent.

"Home Depot is not the only company that has problems," he said.

"Because of a cost-cutting campaign under the last CEO, safety measures definitely declined," Brown said of Home Depot.

"So now, under pressure of my office and that of a number of county district attorneys," he said, "they've totally revamped their procedures and put themselves in a position to deal with hazardous materials in a sound way." More at LA Times.com