Author Topic: Frivolous Lawsuits (Read 7765 times)

ReCycled · « **Reply #16 on:** October 05, 2007, 08:52:44 PM »

Quote from: peewee_RotA on October 05, 2007, 04:04:55 PM

I was commenting on the specific context. I disagree that this wouldn't happen elsewhere. Yes our tort system is a joke.... I once received an "only in America" e-mail foreward in which several of the entries happened in the United Kingdom.

The context of the post was the legal system of litigation - not general stupid behaviour. There's plenty of that throughout the world I agree.
But that's why there are so many lawyers in the US compared to anywhere else in the world. The vast majority of similar frivilous lawsuits do not get to court in Europe or the British Isles. And the settlements are much smaller if successful. And they certainly don't happen in the undeveloped world since their justice and legal systems are so archaic and corrupt that even a legitimate case will never see the light of day.

The Happy Friar · « **Reply #17 on:** October 07, 2007, 03:12:40 PM »

don't most of these crazy lawsuits get appealed & dismissed? I don't really hear of news of appeals, only the initial verdict of the first case, but i can't believe nobody appeals in these & then wins.

quadz · « **Reply #18 on:** October 07, 2007, 05:11:35 PM »

Quote from: ReCycled on October 05, 2007, 08:31:38 AM

[...]

The beverage was on the floor because Ms. Carson had thrown it at her boyfriend 30 seconds earlier during an argument.

[...]

I seem to recall reading that in totally insane sounding verdicts like these, the jury may often have been prevented from hearing the full story.

I wonder if in the above, for instance, the jury was not allowed to be told anything about how the liquid came to be on the floor in the first place.

Regards,

lidz · « **Reply #19 on:** October 07, 2007, 06:31:07 PM »

I agree with most of the above, it is a shame that most see personal injury as a lotto ticket.

However, I was taking some law classes in college and we spent a quarter studying some of the most commonly known frivolous lawsuits. The main one I remember was the woman who spilled McDonald

ReCycled · « **Reply #20 on:** October 07, 2007, 08:42:23 PM »

I also remember that the woman drove out of the drive-thru with the hot coffee propped between her legs. Not a smart place to put it. It's true that McDonalds had been warned before this a few times to reduce the temperature but ignored it. In that case if they are found liable, levy a hefty fine against them, payable to the govt treasury. For the woman, we'll pay your medical bills for whatever burn damage happened, your lawyer fees and a few grand compensation. You're not getting a personal windfall of millions for that.

Here's one from CNN yesterday. The woman's lawyers were seeking $200 million in "damages", an arbitrary amount dreamed up by the lawyers.
The main lesson here is that if anything happens to you, anywhere, no matter how farfetched, run to a lawyer to see if there is a potential windfall for you. If you're confused who to sue, don't worry. They'll find someone.

The Happy Friar · « **Reply #21 on:** October 07, 2007, 08:55:23 PM »

well, that wasn't a frivolous lawsuit. i just don't know how she could sue mcdonalds. But I guess I could sue mcdonalds if they were robbed & i got shot in the leg while sitting at a table. i'm sure a lawyer would find a way.

i find it real strange that TV judges will tell people "you're beef is with person/corp X, they wronged you, not the person/corp Y that you happened to be at" but a lawyer can convince people otherwise. My neighbor has a "pit" where a house used to be. If my son wandered over, because I was drunk & drugged up, & fell in I could sue for millions even though I was at fault. And my lawyer would make sure that the jury didn't know about me because "it's not relavent to the case".

ReCycled · « **Reply #22 on:** October 09, 2007, 05:23:12 PM »

It was pointed out to me today while playing at Vanilla, that all the examples of the lawsuits I first listed on this thread are fake. I checked the internet for a few of them and here is what I found:

http://www.snopes.com/legal/lawsuits.asp

My apologies. This verbage was in some old text files I keep for jokes and interesting items I might see. Looked like a good discussion piece because there have been many real suits of this nature. But not these guys.....

MyDocuments · « **Reply #23 on:** October 09, 2007, 08:57:13 PM »

I am planning to sue Microsoft for using my name. I should get millions.

[BTF] Reflex · « **Reply #24 on:** October 10, 2007, 12:42:17 AM »

They use a space, you do not.

Next Case.

or is the jury maybe not allowed to know that you do not use a space...

ReCycled · « **Reply #25 on:** November 12, 2007, 07:47:08 AM »

OK - this one is funny. Its about a 77 year old German guy who's sueing a 19 year old lady for not sleeping with him. Of course I hope he wins cause then there's hope for me....

http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,513579,00.html

DWxchzrles · « **Reply #26 on:** November 12, 2007, 05:59:59 PM »

Quote from: ReCycled on November 12, 2007, 07:47:08 AM

OK - this one is funny. Its about a 77 year old German guy who's sueing a 19 year old lady for not sleeping with him. Of course I hope he wins cause then there's hope for me....

http://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/0,1518,513579,00.html

for me to

10zx · « **Reply #27 on:** November 12, 2007, 10:07:19 PM »

cykx · « **Reply #28 on:** November 13, 2007, 08:29:04 AM »

Theres a real need for a "No-Bullshit" law.

Don't think it needs an explanation but here goes.

"The dry cleaners lost my suit, I wanna sue for 5mil"
BULLSHIT

A judge actually did try something like that, he got owned.

Author Topic: Frivolous Lawsuits (Read 7765 times)

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