In a separate 1997 criminal case, Menards and founder John R. Menard Jr. pleaded no contest and paid more than $1.5 million in penalties on charges of violating state hazardous-waste laws. Allegations included that John Menard used his pickup to take chromium-contaminated ash from the company and dump it in his household trash.
• In another criminal case in 1997, the company and founder John R. Menard Jr. pleaded no contest and paid more than $1.5 million in penalties on charges of violating state hazardous waste laws.
On Dec. 18, 2025, Menards agreed to pay $4.25 million to Ohio and nine other states to resolve allegations that its “11% off” advertising implied an immediate checkout discount, while customers received store credit for future purchases. The settlement requires clearer disclosures and changes to rebate practices; the states said the company’s ads misled consumers.
The company’s prolific use of “11% OFF” or “11% OFF EVERYTHING” advertising falsely claimed a point-of purchase discount, when Menards actually only offered an in-store merchandise credit for future purchases;
MADISON – Menards shoppers will see changes to the Wisconsin-based home improvement store's rebate program following the settlement of a multi-state investigation led by the state Department of Justice.
Advertised “11% OFF” or “11% OFF EVERYTHING” in a way that suggested an instant price cut, even though customers received only a rebate to use on future purchases.
In August 2005, an Eau Claire County judge ordered Menards to pay $2 million in fines and other charges after the company pleaded guilty to discharging pollutants that spilled into an adjacent watershed. The case was described as the largest environmental fine imposed against a company in Wisconsin.
• In a criminal case in August 2005, an Eau Claire County judge ordered Menard to pay $2 million in fines and other charges after the company pleaded guilty to discharging pollutants that spilled into an adjacent watershed. The case represented the largest environmental fine against a company in the state.
Earthsight’s 2023 report said Menards was offering North American-branded plywood supplied by North American Plywood Corporation, which the report linked to Russian timber. Menards spokesperson Jeff Abbott said the company had not bought plywood from NAPC since January 2022 and would investigate. USA TODAY noted the product listing later showed no brand name.
"The suspect plywood is being sold across the United States," the report states, including by the retail home improvement company Menards, headquartered in Eau Claire.
Menards agreed to pay $30,000 in fines and court costs after a 2007 incident at its Onalaska store. A company employee poured weedkiller from damaged containers onto a parking island; state officials said Menards failed to safely handle hazardous waste. The company said no environmental damage was found, though the state noted its consultant was hired two years later.
Retailer Menard Inc. has agreed to pay $30,000 in fines and court costs for violating state environmental laws in connection with a 2007 case in which a pallet of herbicide was dumped on a parking island of a Menard store in Onalaska.
Marvin Prochaska, a former Menards vice president, settled his age-discrimination lawsuit in March 2012. He alleged he was fired in 2009 at age 63 as the company revamped its staff; Menards said he had violated its vendor-fraternization policy and caused a $227,000 loss. Settlement terms were not publicly stated, and Menards declined comment.
However, John Menard, labeled a "notoriously controlling micro-manager," didn't want older employees around. In April 2009 Prochaska was fired as Menard revamped his corporate staff to include only younger, white males. Theron Berg, 37, who had seven years experience, replaced Prochaska.
On Aug. 15, 2024, the EPA ordered Menard Inc. of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, to immediately stop selling and distributing two unregistered pesticide-treated products, “Antimicrobial Filter” and “Allergen Filter.” The agency said the products were offered online with public-health claims, including possible use against COVID-19, and had not undergone EPA registration review.
CHICAGO (August 15, 2024) - Today, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has ordered Menard Inc. of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, to immediately stop the sale and distribution of unregistered pesticides in violation of the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act.
A jury awarded $5.5 million to a man seriously injured in an unloading accident at Menards in 2019, finding the company negligent, according to the Leader-Telegram. The supplied report is dated April 28, 2026, and was updated September 18, 2026.
EAU CLAIRE — A man who was seriously injured in an unloading accident at Menards in 2019 has won a $5.5 million verdict against the company.
OSHA records show a serious citation issued to Menard Inc. doing business as Menards on May 30, 2024, with an initial penalty of $15,625 and an abatement date of June 10. The citation was contested June 12 and formally settled October 21, 2024, with a current penalty of $0; the violation detail was later deleted.
Standard Cited: 19100212 A01 General requirements for all machines.
OpenSecrets lists $51,281 in contributions associated with Menards Inc. for the 2024 cycle: 47.81% to Democrats and 52.19% to Republicans. It reports contributions in earlier cycles as well, with Republican recipients receiving the larger share in most listed cycles. The figures cover reported federal political contributions, not necessarily company donations.
A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel archive snippet says Menard has been at the center of high-profile pollution cases in Wisconsin in the past. The supplied evidence gives no dates, case details, allegations, or outcomes.