In 1994, a New Mexico jury awarded $2.9 million U.S. in damages to 81-year-old Stella Liebeck who suffered third-degree burns to her legs, groin and buttocks after spilling a cup of McDonald's coffee on herself. This case inspired an annual award—The "Stella" Award—for the most frivolous lawsuit in the U.S. Listed below are some recent nominees.
2001
In November 2000, Mr Grazinski, of Oklahoma City , purchased a brand new 32 foot
Winnebago motor home. On his first trip home, having joined the freeway, he set
the cruise control at 70 mph and calmly left the drivers seat to go into the
back and make himself a cup of coffee. Not surprisingly the Winnie left the
freeway, crashed and overturned. Mr Grazinski sued Winnebago for not advising
him in the handbook that he couldn't actually do this. He was awarded $1,750,000
plus a new Winnie. (Winniebago actually changed their handbooks in view of this
court case, just in case there are any other less gifted drivers buying their
vehicles.)
2000
Kathleen Robertson of Austin, Texas, was awarded $780,000 by a jury of her peers
after breaking her ankle tripping over a toddler who was running amok inside a
furniture store. The owners of the store were understandably surprised at the
verdict, considering the misbehaving little kid was Ms. Robertson's son.
A Philadelphia restaurant was ordered to pay Amber Carson of Lancaster,
Pennsylvania, $113,500 after she slipped on a soft drink and broke her coccyx.
The beverage was on the floor because Ms. Carson had thrown it at her boyfriend
a moment earlier during an argument.
1999
Jerry Williams of Little Rock, Arkansas, was awarded $14,500 and medical
expenses after being bitten on the buttocks by his next door neighbor's beagle.
The beagle was on a chain in its owner's fenced yard, as was Mr. Williams (in
the owner's fenced yard). The award was less than sought because the jury felt
the dog may have been provoked by Mr. Williams who, at the time, was shooting it
repeatedly with a pellet gun.
1998
Nineteen-year-old Carl Truman of Los Angeles won $74,000 and medical expenses
when his neighbour ran over his hand with a Honda Accord. Mr. Truman apparently
didn't notice there was someone at the wheel of the car when he was trying to
steal his neighbour's hubcaps.
Terrence Dickson of Bristol, Pennsylvania, was leaving a house he had just finished robbing by way of the garage. He was not able to get the garage door to go up because the automatic door opener was malfunctioning. He couldn't re-enter the house because the door connecting the house and garage locked when he pulled it shut. The family was on vacation. Mr. Dickson found himself locked in the garage for eight days. He subsisted on a case of Pepsi he found, and a large bag of dry dog food. Mr. Dickson sued the homeowner's insurance, claiming the situation caused him undue mental anguish. The jury agreed to award in his favour to the tune of half a million dollars.
1997
Kara Walton of Claymont, Delaware, successfully sued the owner of a nightclub in
a neighbouring city when she fell from the bathroom window to the floor and
knocked out her two front teeth. This occurred while Ms Walton was trying to
sneak through the window in the ladies room to avoid paying the $3.50 cover
charge. She was awarded $12,000 and dental expenses.