Stella Awards

Mr Sleep · Post by **Mr Sleep** » Fri Jul 19, 2002 12:13 am

The "Stella" awards rank up there with the Darwin awards.

In 1994, a NewMexico jury awarded $2.9 million in damages to an 81-year-old Stella Liebeck who suffered 3rd 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. The cases listed below are clear candidates. They are verging on the outright ridiculous and yet (in the good old USA) with the right attorney you could win anything.

1.) January 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 inside a furniture store. The owners of the store were understandably surprised at the verdict, considering the misbehaving little snot was Mrs. Robertson's son.

2.) June 1998: A 19 year-old Carl Truman of Los Angeles won $74,000 and medical expenses when his neighbor 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 neighbor's hubcaps.

3.) October 1998: Terrence ****son of Bristol, Pennsylvania was leaving ahouse he had just robbed by way of the garage. He was unable to get the garage door open since the automatic door opener was malfunctioning. He couldn't re-enter the house because the door connecting the house and the garage locked when he pulled it shut. The family was on vacation. Mr. ****sonfound himself locked in the garage for eight days. He subsisted on a case of Pepsi he found and a bag of dogfood. He sued the homeowner's insurance, claiming the situation caused him undue mental anguish. The jury agreed to the tune of half a million dollars.

4.) October 1999: Jerry Williams of Little Rock 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 it's owner's fenced-in yard. The award was less than sought because the jury felt the dog might have been just a little provoked at the time by Mr. Williams who was shooting it repeatedly with a pellet gun.

5.) May 2000: A Philadelphia restaurant was ordered to pay Amber Carson of Lancaster, PA $113,500 after she slipped on a soft drink and broke her coccyx. The beverage was on the floor because Ms. Carson threw it at her boyfriend 30 seconds earlier during an argument.

6.) December 1997: Kara Walton of Claymont, Delaware successfully sued the owner of a night club in a neighboring city when she fell from the bathroom window to the floor and knocked outher 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.

And the winner is:

7.) Mr. Merv Grazinski of Oklahoma City. In November 2000, Mr. Grazinski 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 could not actually do this. He was awarded $1,750,000 plus a new Winnebago. (Winnebago actually changed their handbooks on the back of this court case, just in case there are any other complete morons buying their vehicles.)

Tamerlane · Post by **Tamerlane** » Fri Jul 19, 2002 12:39 am

The sad thing about this, is that people everywhere else are trying to emulate these people. I know of plenty of people who have horses and used to contribute them to be used for riding classes and excursions for disabled children etc. But due to insurance rises, these clubs have been forced to disband.

Kameleon · Post by **Kameleon** » Fri Jul 19, 2002 12:56 am

I know that stupid lawsuits like these put many good companies out of business, but I can't help myself...

ROFLMAO

Silur · Post by **Silur** » Fri Jul 19, 2002 1:30 am

What's worse, it says something about the US Justice dept. expected average intelligence of it's citizens. It's sad that the judicial standards regarding common sense are set at the level of that of a goldfish (no offense to the goldfish...). If I were an American citizen, I would feel insulted by these lawsuits.

Mr Flibble · Post by **Mr Flibble** » Fri Jul 19, 2002 2:06 am

That is so... stupid, it's funny! It's like rewarding people for being idiots.

One more reason I like living here - you can't sue people!

Bloodstalker · Post by **Bloodstalker** » Fri Jul 19, 2002 4:10 pm

it's sad, but I think I am related to half these people.

Vivien · Post by **Vivien** » Fri Jul 19, 2002 4:18 pm

Originally posted by Bloodstalker
it's sad, but I think I am related to half these people.

Again proving my point about you people in the South

Bloodstalker · Post by **Bloodstalker** » Fri Jul 19, 2002 4:22 pm

Your timing is impressive Viv, I thought this would have long been buried before you got here.

Obsidian · Post by **Obsidian** » Fri Jul 19, 2002 4:29 pm

I think these are in fact more depressing then the darwins, because these are tragic to muliple people. Many of the innocent.

Unfortunately, my household has to carry massive insurance on our pool, because, amazingly, if someone its trying to break in, and drowns in the pool, we can be sued.

One of our neighbors was sued for leaving a ladder out. A burglar wanabe climbed up it, feel, and broke his ankle. The case, god bless canada, didnt work. YAAAA.

Silur · Post by **Silur** » Fri Jul 19, 2002 4:36 pm

I suddenly realise why shooting trespassers makes perfect sense in the US. Dead people can't sue. So I guess that if you get an electric fence around your house, you'd better make sure to turn up the voltage... yuck!

Bloodstalker · Post by **Bloodstalker** » Fri Jul 19, 2002 4:38 pm

Dead people can't sue, but their relatives can.

fable · Post by **fable** » Fri Jul 19, 2002 4:38 pm

I take offense at Silur's remarks, which have given me a headache. I intend to sue all of you (save Silur) for everything you're collectively worth, which should be enough for me to afford a reasonably decent lunch at a local Indian buffet.

Thank you for your attention.

Vivien · Post by **Vivien** » Fri Jul 19, 2002 4:42 pm

Originally posted by Bloodstalker
Your timing is impressive Viv, I thought this would have long been buried before you got here.

I'm here for a reason, I'll post soon!

Bloodstalker · Post by **Bloodstalker** » Fri Jul 19, 2002 4:46 pm

And here I thought you just missed me.

Silur · Post by **Silur** » Fri Jul 19, 2002 4:49 pm

@Fable: I always knew that electrical fence would pay off. As a safety precaution, I also got a lawyer from one of those NYC lawfirms with half a dozen names in them, eg. Schmidt-Goldstein-Webersprecher-Unterhauptglockenspiel-Johnson & sons.

@BS: Sure they can, but there is something slightly more indisputable about being shot for illegally entering someones home than breaking a leg stepping on a skateboard while climbing through the window of same mentioned home...

Weasel · Post by **Weasel** » Fri Jul 19, 2002 4:56 pm

Just to add a little..

Originally posted by Bloodstalker
Dead people can't sue, but their relatives can.

And their relatives and then the relatives of the first set of relatives...followed by the relatives of the second relatives....ect ..ect...

I keep my dog in a fence..inside of another fence to keep from being sued.

I asked my wife not to wax the floors anymore, scared a criminal might break in and in the process of lifting my tv, slip down, hurting his back.

I'm thinking of taking the wheel locks off of my rims, I believe it might cause someong undue mental anguish in the process of stealing them.

Bloodstalker · Post by **Bloodstalker** » Fri Jul 19, 2002 4:58 pm

I take offense at Silur's remarks, which have given me a headache. I intend to sue all of you (save Silur) for everything you're collectively worth, which should be enough for me to afford a reasonably decent lunch at a local Indian buffet

I'll just settle with you for what I got.

*empties a couple handfuls of pocket lint in the plate*

I hate going to court

I laugh at that weasel, but sadly, it's probably true.

Vivien · Post by **Vivien** » Fri Jul 19, 2002 5:21 pm

Originally posted by Bloodstalker
And here I thought you just missed me.

Ummm...

Yes I did! You'e my favorite

Bloodstalker · Post by **Bloodstalker** » Fri Jul 19, 2002 5:24 pm

Thank you Viv....I will treasure these next ten minutes.

*don't worry, I know I am always your favorite*

Obsidian · Post by **Obsidian** » Fri Jul 19, 2002 6:18 pm

Hmm, if you shoot someone for trespassing, do you get arrested and sued? Or just arrested?

Because if you are very wealthy, and shoot trespassers, then buy your way out of jail time, it'd probably be cheaper then if the trespasser drowned in your jaccuzzi.