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HAUNTED BY LITIGATION
Scariest Lawsuits of 2005 Unmasked by
Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: PETER BYLSMA
PHONE: 310-795-8532
October 25, 2005
Halloween is just around the corner, and for the seventh year, Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) is unmasking its list of this year’s scariest lawsuits, all of “witch” are sure to give you the willies.
“Lawsuit abuse can be frightening,” said Peter Bylsma, executive director of Los Angeles CALA. “Even when frivolous lawsuits are eventually dismissed, it still costs the court valuable time and wastes taxpayer money.”
This year’s scariest lawsuits are:
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Gambling Demons – A man filed a class-action lawsuit for millions of dollars against drug manufacturers claiming the medication he took to control Parkinson’s disease turned him into a compulsive gambler. (CBC News – Toronto, May 9, 2005)
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“Fear Factor” – A viewer sued NBC for $2.5 million contending that he threw up because of a “Fear Factor” episode in which contestants ate rats mixed in a blender. (Associated Press, March 10, 2005)
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Cereal Killer Strikes Again – A mother of two filed a lawsuit against several cereal companies contending their products are not as healthy as consumers are led to believe. According to the suit, the woman became alarmed after watching a news story where it was reported that low-sugar cereals have little nutritional benefit. (San Diego Union-Tribune, March 29, 2005)
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Haunted by Homework – A 17-year old student and his father filed a lawsuit against his high school arguing that mandatory summer homework should not have been assigned in the honors math class the student wanted to take. (Wisconsin Gazette, March 9, 2005)
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Trick or Treat – A personal injury lawyer in Florida had his paralegal take training to be admitted as a hospital chaplain, whereupon he solicited clients while wearing a pastor’s uniform. (www.overlawyered.com, March 28, 2005)
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Frightening Freighter – A woman and her son sued a cruise line after getting sick on a cruise where they said toilets overflowed and crewmembers were seen with prostitutes at ports of call. The lawsuit seeks compensation for pain and suffering; emotional distress; loss of earnings; legal fees and medical expenses, including a colonoscopy and hemorrhoid surgery. (Reuters, April 1, 2005)
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Phantom Pains – A New York City firefighter filed a lawsuit claiming he developed asthma as a result of 9/11, even though he didn’t even join the department until months after the attack. (New York Post, March 24, 2005)
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Possessed Mountain Bike – A mountain biker filed a million-dollar lawsuit following an incident where his bicycle came to an abrupt stop after hitting a hole in the trail, sending him over his handlebars. (Toronto Sun, April 17, 2005)
“When our legal system is used for greed instead of justice, we end up paying a ‘lawsuit tax’ in the form of higher prices on anything from toothpaste to healthcare insurance,” said Bylsma. “These lawsuits sound funny, but when you realize what they cost us all, it’s downright scary.”
Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse is a nonprofit, grassroots public education organization with more than 4,000 supporters in the Los Angeles County area. For more information, contact Los Angeles CALA at (310) 795-8532 or maryann@maryannmaloney.com .
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