The highest value lawsuits in history are often massive class-action settlements or government actions against corporations. The largest settlement in U.S. history is the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement of 1998, in which major tobacco companies were required to pay more than $206 billion over 25 years to 46 states.
The most expensive lawsuit settlements in history
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). You can ask a lawyer for advice before you go to court, but you can't have one with you in court.
1. Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement – $206 Billion. In the 1990s, more than 40 states sued big tobacco companies for the health care costs linked to smoking. They claimed these companies lied about the dangers and marketed to kids.
Debt collectors can and often do sue over relatively small amounts, especially if you've ignored repeated attempts to collect the money owed. While lawsuits over a few hundred dollars aren't common, balances in the $1,000 to $5,000 range are often fair game, depending on the creditor and your state's rules.
The one dollar amount is significant because that one dollar can trigger a statute which awards the prevailing party fees and costs in certain areas of the law, including areas of civil rights law. These awards of attorney's fees and costs can often be quite large.
Ultimately the jury ruled that Mueller had assaulted Swift at the 2013 meet-and-greet, awarding her $1, which was paid in the form of a Sacagawea dollar coin.
Top Personal Injury Settlements in California History
We all know the most famous frivolous lawsuit story. 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.
Taylor Swift – The $1 Symbol of Strength Swift turned the tables when she sued a DJ for assault — asking for just one dollar in damages. The gesture wasn't about money; it was about reclaiming power and dignity. That symbolic verdict became one of the decade's most empowering legal victories.
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.
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.
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 vast majority of lawsuits never reach trial, as they are resolved through legal settlements. A settlement occurs when both parties in a dispute agree to resolve the matter outside of court, often involving financial compensation.
Dress nicely. You don't need to (and shouldn't) look like you're ready for a walk down the “Red-Carpet” – that would be overdoing it. Just a clean, attractive attire is sufficient. Something a judge would see as appropriate and respectful.
Yes, you can. In California, a person's financial status does not remove their legal responsibility. If someone harms you, breaks a contract, or causes financial loss, you have the right to take legal action—regardless of whether they can pay. A successful lawsuit means the court agrees that the other party is liable.
David Mueller (2013 to 2017)
Mueller, a former radio DJ, sued Swift for defamation in 2015. He claimed that he was wrongfully fired from his job at KYGO radio station because she falsely accused him of groping her. Swift claimed that Mueller groped her at a 2013 concert for the singer's Red album tour.
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.