Some of the most absurd lawsuits involve petty complaints or absurd demands, such as a judge suing a dry cleaner for $54 million over a lost pair of pants, a person suing over beer not inducing a better life, or a lawsuit claiming Subway tuna sandwiches lacked tuna. These cases highlight the misuse of the legal system for frivolous complaints.
What are some famous examples of ridiculous lawsuits?
There are countless examples of unusual things that find their way into a lawsuit; however, two of the most common reasons are litigation due to physical or financial harm. These two issues have a wide array of topics and situations that fall under their umbrella term.
Stella Liebeck sued McDonald's back in 1992 when she spilled hot coffee on herself. "But coffee is meant to be hot" we all cry. Dig a little deeper into the case however and it starts to look less frivolous. The coffee caused 3rd degree burns for a start.
Nah, Gwyneth Paltrow 's motivation to go to trial to fight a lawsuit accusing her of sending a fellow skier “absolutely flying” at a posh Utah ski resort in 2016 was about vindication. She got it when a jury found her not at fault in the collision, granting her exactly the $1 she sought in her countersuit.
Nominal damages are frequently just $1, or some other very small sum of money. Nominal damages are awarded when you have proven a violation of your rights, but you have not shown any actual harm that can be compensated. You are most likely to win a significant amount of money if you suffered an actual physical injury.
Cases include a man charged with “illegally feeding an alligator” having had his hand bitten off, a man arrested on suspicion of “hiding pies” to throw at the Canadian Prime Minister, a 9-year old New Zealand girl called “Talulah Does The Hula From Hawaii” who was taken into the court's guardianship to enforce a name ...
Yes, a collector can legally sue you for a $500 debt, but they rarely do because the costs often outweigh the benefits. Legally, there's no minimum amount required to file a lawsuit, so $500 qualifies if it's past due and validated.
In May 2015, a federal New York judge granted a $13 million settlement against Red bull which resolved two class-action lawsuits alleging false advertising.
Data shows Ob/Gyns are facing more lawsuits 📈 but once again, General Surgeons top the list with a massive 90% reporting they've been sued. 😳 "Surgeons carry higher risk due to the complexity of their work," says Bill Burns from the MPL Association.
Maintain good communications
A client who knows he or she can get in contact with you, and that you are committed to his or her project, is less likely to pursue a lawsuit or grievance even in the event a problem with the project arises.
Misdiagnosis, Failure to Diagnose, Delayed Diagnosis
If a healthcare provider negligently fails to identify, diagnose, and treat a patient's medical condition and that delay or misdiagnosis causes harm, the treating healthcare provider may be liable for medical malpractice.
Generally, dog bite cases (in strict liability states) and clear-liability car accidents are the easiest lawsuits to win. These cases often have straightforward evidence, clear negligence, and well-established laws backing plaintiffs.
The most expensive lawsuit settlements in history
Attorney General Neronha co-leads 22 states and the District of Columbia in suing to stop Trump Administration from withholding essential federal funding.
The short answer is potentially everything. If you lose a lawsuit and a money judgment is entered against you, all of your assets could potentially be at risk to pay off that judgment, and your wages could be garnished (i.e., taken) until the judgment is fully paid.
Debt collectors are more likely to sue when the debt amount is large (usually over $1,000). They are also more likely to sue if the debt is recent and within your state's statute of limitations.
In short: Debt collectors typically start considering lawsuits for amounts around $1,000 to $5,000, but there's no strict rule. If your debt is within that range, or if you've ignored collection calls or letters, you could be at risk of being sued.
1: Spilling the (Coffee) Beans
McDonald's golden arches catch sunlight. A list of outrageous lawsuits would be incomplete without the case of Stella Liebeck, an Albuquerque, N.M., woman who spilled a cup of McDonald's coffee on her lap while sitting in the passenger seat of a parked car.
Unusual Crimes You've Never Heard Of
First-degree Murder
The combination of severe consequences, extensive investigative resources, and the emotional impact on juries makes these cases exceptionally difficult to defend.
Swift counter-sued Mueller for assault and battery. The amount of damages she was seeking was $1 – her purpose was to prove a point. And prove a point she did. On August 14th, a jury ruled in Swift's favor, agreeing that Mueller had assaulted her and they awarded her $1.
Small claims court allows you to sue a person, business, or government agency that you think owes you money. Generally, you can only sue for up to $12,500 in small claims court (or up to $6,250 if you're a business).
In 1995, a Virginia prison inmate named Robert Lee Brock sued ... himself. "For violating my religious beliefs, I want to pay myself $5 million, but I ask the state to pay it since I can't work," Brock wrote in a handwritten seven-page lawsuit.