turtlespeed 226 #1 July 28, 2008 Taken from http://www.legalzoom.com/legal-articles/article11331.html We’ve all heard the one about the woman who spilled scalding coffee and successfully sued McDonald’s. But we’ve also heard reports of burglars suing homeowners after injuring themselves during a robbery. And don’t forget the stories of Winnebago owners winning lawsuits after they left the driver’s seat because the vehicle’s cruise control was activated. Most of us laugh off these stories as urban legends made to show the absurdity of frivolous lawsuits. You might be surprised, however, by how many of these are true. In February 1992, Stella Liebeck ordered a cup of coffee to go from McDonalds. Liebeck was sitting in the passenger seat of her nephew’s car, which was pulled over so she could add sugar to her coffee. While removing the cup’s lid, Liebeck spilled her hot coffee, burning her legs. It was determined that Liebeck suffered third degree burns on over six percent of her body. Originally, Liebeck sought $20,000 in damages. McDonalds refused to settle out of court. However, they should have. Liebeck was ultimately awarded $200,000 in compensatory damages, which was reduced to $160,000 because she was found to be twenty percent at fault. She was also awarded $2.7 million in punitive damages. Reading about these cases often induces more chuckles than seriousness. Their mere existence proves that Ripley’s Believe It or Not applies to the legal world too. In September 1988, two Akron, Ohio-based carpet layers named Gordon Falker and Gregory Roach were severely burned when a three and a half gallon container of carpet adhesive ignited when the hot water heater it was sitting next to kicked on. Both men felt the warning label on the back of the can was insufficient. Words like “flammable” and “keep away from heat” didn’t prepare them for the explosion. They filed suit against the adhesive manufacturers, Para-Chem. A jury obviously agreed since the men were awarded $8 million for their troubles. In 1992, 23-year old Karen Norman accidentally backed her car into Galveston Bay after a night of drinking. Norman couldn’t operate her seat belt and drowned. Her passenger managed to disengage herself and make it to shore. Norman ’s parents sued Honda for making a seat belt their drunken daughter (her blood alcohol level was .17 – nearly twice the legal limit) couldn’t open underwater. A jury found Honda seventy-five percent responsible for Karen’s death and awarded the Norman family $65 million. An appeals court threw out the case. In May 2003, Stephen Joseph of San Francisco sued Kraft foods for putting trans-fat in their Oreo cookies. Joseph wanted an injunction to order Kraft to stop selling Oreos to children. Once the media caught wind of Joseph’s lawsuit, the media blitz became too much for him to handle. He decided to drop the suit. In 1997, Larry Harris of Illinois broke into a bar owned by Jessie Ingram. Ingram, the victim of several break-ins, had recently set a trap around his windows to deter potential burglars. Harris, 37, who was under the influence of both alcohol and drugs, must have missed the warning sign prominently displayed in the window. He set off the trap as he entered the window, electrocuting himself. The police refused to file murder charges. Harris’s family saw it differently, however, and filed a civil suit against Ingram. A jury originally awarded the Harris family $150,000. Later, the award was reduced to $75,000 when it was decided Harris should share at least half of the blame. In 1991, Richard Harris sued Anheiser-Busch for $10,000 for false advertising. Harris (no relation to the above-mentioned burglar) claimed to suffer from emotional distress in addition to mental and physical injury. Why? Because when he drank beer, he didn’t have any luck with the ladies, as promised in the TV ads. Harris also didn’t like that he got sick sometimes after he drank. The case was thrown out of court. In 1998, Kellogg sued Exxon because customers might confuse the gas station’s “whimsical tiger logo” with Kellogg’s mascot, “Tony the Tiger.” It didn’t matter, of course, that Exxon had already been using this logo for 30 years. A federal court tossed the suit. Kellogg appealed the case claiming the Exxon tiger walks and acts just like Kellogg’s “Tony.” In 2003, Richard Schick sued his former employer, the Illinois Department of Public Aid. Schick sought $5 million plus $166,700 in back pay for sexual and disability discrimination. In fact, Shick was so stressed by this discrimination that he robbed a convenience store with a shotgun. A jury felt his pain and awarded him the money he was seeking. The decision was then reversed. Unfortunately, the $303,830 he was still awarded isn’t doing him much good during the ten years he’s serving for armed robbery. In 1995, Robert Lee Brock, a Virginia prison inmate, decided to take a new approach to the legal system. After filing a number of unsuccessful lawsuits against the prison system, Brock sued himself. He claimed his civil rights and religious beliefs were violated when he allowed himself to get drunk. After all, it was inebriation that created his cycle of committing crimes and being incarcerated. He demanded $5 million from himself. However, since he didn’t earn an income behind bars, he felt the state should pay. Needless to say, the case was thrown out. In 1996, Florida physical therapist Paul Shimkonis sued his local nudie bar claiming whiplash from a lap dancer’s large breasts. Shimkonis felt he suffered physical harm and mental anguish from the breasts, which he claimed felt like “cement blocks” hitting him. Shimkonis sought justice in the amount of $15,000, which was denied. Reading about these cases often induces more chuckles than seriousness. Their mere existence proves that Ripley’s Believe It or Not applies to the legal world too. And the one about the Winnebago driver? That is just an urban legend.I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BillyVance 35 #2 July 28, 2008 Quote In 1996, Florida physical therapist Paul Shimkonis sued his local nudie bar claiming whiplash from a lap dancer’s large breasts. Shimkonis felt he suffered physical harm and mental anguish from the breasts, which he claimed felt like “cement blocks” hitting him. Shimkonis sought justice in the amount of $15,000, which was denied. That reminds me of the infamous Boobie Bungalow club off I-65 just north of the AL/TN border. One night 16 years ago they had Crystal Storm, some dancer with collossal boobs, each boob were bigger than most people's heads! She smacked me with them and they did feel like concrete blocks, only smoother. Maybe I should sue her. If only I could find the old polaroid I had taken with her...."Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RhondaLea 4 #3 July 28, 2008 For more cases like those above, here's the website of one of my favorite mailing lists: The Stella AwardsIf you don't know where you're going, you should know where you came from. Gullah Proverb Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pairashooter 0 #4 July 28, 2008 How about any of those POS farmer McNastys out there suing because people have landed on there land, with no damage?Chris Scaife Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bfilarsky 0 #5 July 28, 2008 I have no idea about the others, but the McDonalds one was actually a legitimate case. The coffee they were serving was MUCH hotter than the industry standard, and when it was spilled (as mentioned) it caused THIRD degree burns requiring an 8 day stay in the hospital and skin grafts. She asked McDonalds to pay her medical bill, which they refused, at which point she sued them for the cost of the bill. Details here: http://www.lectlaw.com/files/cur78.htm Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Leapinglizardto 0 #6 July 28, 2008 Quote In 1998, Kellogg sued Exxon because customers might confuse the gas station’s “whimsical tiger logo” with Kellogg’s mascot, “Tony the Tiger.” It didn’t matter, of course, that Exxon had already been using this logo for 30 years. A federal court tossed the suit. Kellogg appealed the case claiming the Exxon tiger walks and acts just like Kellogg’s “Tony.” It's true dammit. Just this morning, I made the mistake of pouring myself a bowl of 93 octane for breakfast, and filling my tank with Frosted Flakes. Talk about heartburn.It didn't end there. Read on: Quote [url http://www.eura.com/steffen/jura/aktuelles/texte/tony_kellogs_vs_exxon_tiger.htm">'Take it to the limit, one more time.' It's pretty pathetic when you have to TELL people you're fucking cool Skymama «narrative»This thread will lock in 3..2.. What a load of narrow-minded Xenophobic Bullshit!-squeak Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tuna-Salad 0 #7 July 28, 2008 Wow what a bunch of retards... In 1992, 23-year old Karen Norman accidentally backed her car into Galveston Bay after a night of drinking. Norman couldn’t operate her seat belt and drowned. Her passenger managed to disengage herself and make it to shore. Norman ’s parents sued Honda for making a seat belt their drunken daughter (her blood alcohol level was .17 – nearly twice the legal limit) couldn’t open underwater. A jury found Honda seventy-five percent responsible for Karen’s death and awarded the Norman family $65 million. An appeals court threw out the case That one especially sickens me but then again.. nobody in the united states is accountable for their actions. Besides.. USA really just means U Sue AllMillions of my potential children died on your daughters' face last night. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
goofyjumper 0 #8 July 28, 2008 Just remember, these money awards are from a jury of OUR peers. Can't get mad at the plaintiff's or the attorneys. Not saying that you are Turtle. ----------------- I love and Miss you so much Honey! Orfun #3 ~ Darla Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turtlespeed 226 #9 July 28, 2008 Quote Just remember, these money awards are from a jury of OUR peers. Can't get mad at the plaintiff's or the attorneys. Not saying that you are Turtle. LOL [Sling Blade]Naw, I don't recon I got no reason to be angry no more . . . [/Sling Blade]I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gravitysurfer 0 #10 July 28, 2008 This one is pretty ridiculous. Fang-Bearing Baboons Original Story aloha. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turtlespeed 226 #11 July 28, 2008 I don't care who you are - that right there is funny!I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Butters 0 #12 July 28, 2008 Quote This one is pretty ridiculous. Fang-Bearing Baboons Original Story Suing for $10 million because they "didn't know if they were going to live or die." If they win will everyone that skydives be able to sue?"That looks dangerous." Leopold Stotch Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Unstable 9 #13 July 28, 2008 I agree - What, nobody has said anything about the most famous Dumbfuck in the world?!?! Two Words. Scott. Lutz.=========Shaun ========== Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
turtlespeed 226 #14 July 28, 2008 Quote I agree - What, nobody has said anything about the most famous Dumbfuck in the world?!?! Two Words. Scott. Lutz. That was a righteous suit, man. He was obviously tried to be done in by his instructors and those power lines were out to get him.I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Leapinglizardto 0 #15 July 28, 2008 Quote This one is pretty ridiculous. Fang-Bearing BaboonsOriginal Story Was this pregnancy conceived in the cable car over the zoo? And if so can the baboons file a countersuit, for emotional trauma & psychological damages.It's pretty pathetic when you have to TELL people you're fucking cool Skymama «narrative»This thread will lock in 3..2.. What a load of narrow-minded Xenophobic Bullshit!-squeak Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lawrocket 3 #16 July 28, 2008 QuoteIn May 2003, Stephen Joseph of San Francisco sued Kraft foods for putting trans-fat in their Oreo cookies. Joseph wanted an injunction to order Kraft to stop selling Oreos to children. Once the media caught wind of Joseph’s lawsuit, the media blitz became too much for him to handle. He decided to drop the suit. And instead, the California Legislature passed a law banning trans-fat in restaurants. Hey, Nabisco - YOU ARE NEXT! Amazing when silly lawsuits become public policy. My wife is hotter than your wife. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Samurai136 0 #17 July 28, 2008 You don't know the half of it! First Oreos... then Coke Zero! "Buttons aren't toys." - Trillian Ken Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
