In today’s society, everyone wants to make a quick, easy fortune. There’s no better way to do that than to sue someone of course! Here are some of the most ridiculous lawsuits that have ever been served.
1.) Peters vs. Universal Studios
Every year, the Universal Studios theme park in Orlando, Florida has Halloween Horror Nights, an event where the park has scary actors and haunted houses around the park. Well, several years ago, Cleanthi Peters sued Universal Studios for $15,000 for “extreme fear, mental anguish, and emotional distress.” Basically, she filed a lawsuit because the park was too scary.
2.) Ass vs. Viacom
Bob Craft decided to change his name to Jack Ass in 1997 to help raise awareness about drunk driving (how that would help raise awareness is beyond me). When the MTV show Jackass started to roll out episodes, he sued Viacom, MTV’s parent company. He claimed the show infringed on trademark, plagiarized his name, and defamed his character. He sued for $10 million. Montana courts quickly dismissed his lawsuit.
3.) Aitken vs. NBC
After watching an episode of NBC’s Fear Factor, Austin Aitken sued NBC for $2.5 million. Why? Because after watching the contestants eat rats on the show, Aitken felt dizzy and lightheaded, his blood pressure rose, and he vomited. He became so confused that he also ran into a door. The judge threw the case out.
4.) Heckard vs. Jordan & Knight
Has anyone ever told you that you looked like someone else? Well Allen Heckard has. In fact, he sued the person that he looked like for defamation, permanent injury, and emotional pain and suffering. Who was the lucky person he sued? Michael Jordan. Yes, the Michael Jordan of NBA fame. He also sued Phil Knight, founder of Nike. Heckard sued for $832 million. He later dropped the case.
5.) Liebeck vs. McDonald’s
The case that almost everyone has heard of. In 1992, 79 year old Stella Liebeck spilled some McDonald’s coffee on herself and burned her thighs. She originally asked McDonald’s to pay for her medical bills, but they only offered $800. After an initial reward of $2.9 million, it was reduced to $640,000. Considering that she spent 49 cents on the coffee itself, she made out with quite the profit.
6.) Overton vs. Anheuser-Busch
In 1991, Richard Overton decided to serve a lawsuit to Anheuser-Busch, maker of Budweiser, for $10,000. Overton had 3 claims: 2 for false and misleading advertising and 1 claim that he suffered mental anguish, emotional distress, and monetary loss because drinking a Budweiser did not make beautiful women surround him and transport him to a tropical paradise, as depicted in a commercial. Courts dismissed his case.
