Some of the most infamous and "stupid" lawsuits, often cited for their absurdity or frivolous nature, include a man suing illusionist David Copperfield for stealing his "godly powers," and a $5 million suit against Kraft over Velveeta mac and cheese cooking times. These cases often involve extreme demands, questionable logic, or attempts to sue over trivial issues.
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.
Suing Subway Over Missing Sandwiches
Subway is famous for its foot-long sandwiches, but they were recently called for those heroes being less than 12 inches. One industrious teenager with a tape measure determined the sandwiches were only 11 inches long.
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 ...
1998 – The Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement – $206 Billion. The Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement was entered in November 1998 and is still the largest lawsuit settlement in history.
Jonathan Lee Riches is a convicted fraudster known for the many lawsuits he has filed in various United States district courts. Riches was incarcerated at Federal Medical Center, Lexington, Kentucky, for wire fraud under the terms of a plea bargain.
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.
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.
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.
Attorney General Neronha co-leads 22 states and the District of Columbia in suing to stop Trump Administration from withholding essential federal funding.
Stella Liebeck, a 79-year-old woman, suffered third-degree burns when she accidentally spilled hot coffee on her lap after purchasing it from a McDonald's drive-thru. She sued McDonald's, claiming that the coffee was excessively hot and dangerous. The jury awarded her $2.86 million, which was later reduced to $640,000.
Pearson v. Chung, also known as the "$54 million pants" case, is a 2007 civil case decided in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia in which Roy Pearson, then an administrative law judge, sued his local dry cleaning establishment for $54 million in damages after the dry cleaners allegedly lost his pants.
Introduction. Myra Clark Gaines' 19th century fight over an enormous inheritance is still the longest-running civil lawsuit in American history, taking over 60 years to finally find some kind of resolution. The United States Supreme Court called her case "the most remarkable in the records."
The Year's Most Ridiculous Lawsuits
To a judge, avoid interrupting, lying, making threats, being disrespectful (e.g., "Whatever," "Huh?"), blaming others (like your lawyer or probation officer), discussing the case's merits outside proper channels, asking "what would you do," or showing excessive emotion/trying to gain sympathy (like bringing kids). Focus on being truthful, respectful, calm, and accepting responsibility for your actions.
He initially sued her stating that she had caused his dismissal. She countersued because she wanted the trial to serve as an “example to other women.” Swift only sought a single dollar in damages, which the jury awarded her.
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. The result was a $206 billion deal over 25 years, the largest settlement in U.S. history.
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.