Husband sues over floral mix-up

HOUSTON, Aug. 10 (UPI) -- A Texas man has sued 1-800-flowers.com, claiming it made his divorce more expensive by letting his wife know about flowers he sent to his girlfriend.

Leroy Greer is seeking financial compensation for mental anguish -- and for the extra money he might have to pay his wife -- The Houston Chronicle reported. His divorce is pending in Fort Bend County, near Houston.

Greer’s troubles began when he sent red roses and a stuffed animal to his girlfriend with a tender message. The florist sent a coupon to his home, leading his wife to call the company and ask for a copy of the receipt.

His wife then re-faxed the receipt to Greer’s office with an added note -- "Be a man! If you got caught red handed then don't still lie."

Greer acknowledges his own behavior was faulty, but he says the company breached a promise of privacy.

Richard Alderman, a consumer law expert at the University of Houston Law Center, said Greer might have a hard time winning.

"I'm a big consumer advocate, but in this case I'd have to go with caveat emptor," he told the Chronicle, using the Latin phrase for “buyer beware.”