What being American is all about... - DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate

**Todilrdc** · 01-19-2007, 09:33 PM

Time once again to review the winners of the Annual "Stella Awards." The Stella Awards are named after 81 year-old Stella Liebeck who spilled hot coffee on herself and successfully sued McDonald's (in N.M.). That case inspired the Stella Awards for the most frivolous, ridiculous, and successful lawsuits in the United States

Here are this year's winners

5th Place (tie)

Kathleen Robertson of Austin, Texas, was awarded $80,000. 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 toddler was Ms. Robertson's son.

5th Place (tie)

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.***

5th Place (tie)

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 since 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, and 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. He sued the homeowner's insurance claiming the situation caused him undue mental anguish. The jury agreed, to the tune of $500,000. In my opinion this is so outrageous that it should have been 2nd Place!

4th Place

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. The award was less than sought because the jury thought the dog might have been just a little provoked at the time by Mr. Williams who had climbed over the fence into the yard and was shooting it repeatedly with a pellet gun.***

3rd Place

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

2nd Place

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 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***

1st Place

This year's run away winner was Mrs. Merv Grazinski of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Mrs. Grazinski purchased a brand new 32-foot Winnebago motor home. On her first trip home, (from an OU football game), having driven onto the freeway, she set the cruise control at 70 mph and calmly left the driver's seat to go into the back & make herself a sandwich. Not surprisingly, the RV left the freeway, crashed and overturned. Mrs. Grazinski sued Winnebago for not advising her in the owner's manual that she couldn't actually do this. The jury awarded her $1,750,000. plus a new motor home. The company actually changed their manuals on the basis of this suit, just in case there were any other complete morons around.

I really hope these arent true!!

**uneniaPhenits** · 01-19-2007, 09:39 PM

I really hope these arent true!!

You're in luck, they aren't. Its a hoax that was drawn up in one of those godawful chain emails people send around the net.

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

**ButKnillinoi** · 01-19-2007, 09:39 PM

OMG

**steevytraunse** · 01-19-2007, 09:42 PM

ye reminds me of the microwave story.

This supports the "random usa people answer geography questions"-thread

**P9CCd35R** · 01-19-2007, 10:12 PM

You're in luck, they aren't. Its a hoax that was drawn up in one of those godawful chain emails people send around the net.

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

Quoted again becuase most people will not read it. These are FALSE.

**steevytraunse** · 01-19-2007, 10:13 PM

Quoted again becuase most people will not read it. These are FALSE.

yet there enough other cases that are just as dumb and 100% true

**catermos** · 01-19-2007, 10:20 PM

Thank God they aren't true. I was getting seriously pissed off reading those. There are quite a bit of similarly stupid court cases in America though. They shouldn't let a jury decide cases like these. The average American citizen is too damn stupid. Let a judge with some common sense decide these kinds of cases.

**oyymoss** · 01-20-2007, 03:34 AM

hooray for chain mail / spam

**Sopsneork** · 01-20-2007, 04:07 AM

The average American citizen is too damn stupid. Let a judge with some common sense decide these kinds of cases.

Exactly.

**yatrahnualenu** · 01-20-2007, 04:19 AM

Thank God they aren't true. I was getting seriously pissed off reading those. There are quite a bit of similarly stupid court cases in America though. They shouldn't let a jury decide cases like these. The average American citizen is too damn stupid. Let a judge with some common sense decide these kinds of cases.

I think a lot of people get awarded money for things that might seem stupid to us (like someone burning themselves on their hot coffee) because the money is needed to pay for the medical expenses (which they wouldn't be able to normally afford).

I remember one case a while back in the UK where the coffee was so hot that the child (who was burned) required plastic surgery.

**DurryVony** · 01-20-2007, 05:00 AM

I did once see a link to an article about a New Yorker who was arrested for not paying an 18% tip. That seemed pretty stupid to me.

here it is

**gSjQEEmq** · 01-20-2007, 05:05 AM

i wish i waznt amerikan so i cood reed wat it sead

**Hixinfineedom** · 01-20-2007, 05:41 AM

Hey and there was me thinking being American is all about being a gun toking, overweighted baboon that enjoys watching the war on Tv while dining on a Domino´s pizza, 12 Bigmac´s, 4 McRibs and a gallon of Coke, which of course was picked up by the gigantic wife with the big gas guzzling suv?!
Man was i wrong,..

It´s a joke guys, calm down ! I wouldn´t be making these kind of comments if you guys wouldn´t get so worked up about it !

**freflellalafe** · 01-20-2007, 05:54 AM

It's sad that you do actually need such a disclaimer on these forums Golemfrost

I guess there ain't too many Americans smart enough to understand satire.

It´s a joke guys, calm down ! I wouldn´t be making these kind of comments if you guys wouldn´t get so worked up about it !

**cajonnmu** · 01-20-2007, 06:06 AM

Hey and there was me thinking being American is all about being a gun toking, overweighted baboon that enjoys watching the war on Tv while dining on a Domino´s pizza, 12 Bigmac´s, 4 McRibs and a gallon of Coke, which of course was picked up by the gigantic wife with the big gas guzzling suv?!
Man was i wrong,..

What's with all the racism? Why don't you actually visit America? The stereotypes are just a bunch of bullshit, but you europeans are always clinging to them. You are the most arrogant, ignorant group of people, but the funny part (and I use that term lightly) is that you all have this overwhelming superiority complex. Now, I know you germans kicked the crap out of the french, who are the worst offenders of this, but with how much you guys supported hitler, you can see what I am talking about when I mention superiority complex.

Now, the Americans kicked the crap out of you, and we don't try and pretend we are better than the europeans. Yet europe thinks it's better than America. Almost funny, but really kind of sad.

**Hixinfineedom** · 01-20-2007, 06:15 AM

lol Thesh,
how long have we been on these boards ?
Geesh dude you should know that i lived over 13 years in the states,..

And btw, get your history right m8,
the US didn´t kick anybodys "ass",.. It was a joint venture where most of the German resources were used on the Russians,..
You guys kicked in after the war was as good as won.

**cajonnmu** · 01-20-2007, 06:19 AM

lol Thesh,
how long have we been on these boards ?
Geesh dude you should know that i lived over 13 years in the states,..

How long have you been on the boards? Of course I know that; if I didn't, I probably wouldn't have made the comment. Dick.

And btw, get your history right m8,
the US didn´t kick anybodys "ass",.. It was a joint venture where most of the German resources were used on the Russians,..
You guys kicked in after the war was as good as won.

So what did you guys do in the war? Beat up the polish and the french, eh? Some accomplishment.

**Hixinfineedom** · 01-20-2007, 06:23 AM

I´ll drink to your political correctness,..

@ what did we do ?
Well why should i as a anti-war guy boast any of Germanys war achievments ?
But what i can say, is for a country smaller than Tx, Germany did some massive damage and made Europe tremble.

**freflellalafe** · 01-20-2007, 06:26 AM

Hm, confused. I thought "Surely Golem realises Thesh is playing along with the whole bashing thing and just pissin about", but now I think Golem is also playing along...

Damn Internet.

**Hixinfineedom** · 01-20-2007, 06:29 AM

Hm, confused. I thought "Surely Golem realises Thesh is playing along with the whole bashing thing and just pissin about", but now I think Golem is also playing along...

Damn Internet.

hehe

You´ll never know,... (tbh i don´t even know)

/plays the X-files and Twilight zone themesong at the same time !

01-19-2007, 09:33 PM	#1
Todilrdc Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 540 Senior Member	What being American is all about... Time once again to review the winners of the Annual "Stella Awards." The Stella Awards are named after 81 year-old Stella Liebeck who spilled hot coffee on herself and successfully sued McDonald's (in N.M.). That case inspired the Stella Awards for the most frivolous, ridiculous, and successful lawsuits in the United States Here are this year's winners 5th Place (tie) Kathleen Robertson of Austin, Texas, was awarded $80,000. 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 toddler was Ms. Robertson's son. 5th Place (tie) 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.* 5th Place (tie) 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 since 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, and 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. He sued the homeowner's insurance claiming the situation caused him undue mental anguish. The jury agreed, to the tune of $500,000. In my opinion this is so outrageous that it should have been 2nd Place! 4th Place 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. The award was less than sought because the jury thought the dog might have been just a little provoked at the time by Mr. Williams who had climbed over the fence into the yard and was shooting it repeatedly with a pellet gun.* 3rd Place 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 (tailbone). The beverage was on the floor because Ms. Carson had thrown it at her boyfriend 30 seconds earlier during an argument. 2nd Place 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 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*** 1st Place This year's run away winner was Mrs. Merv Grazinski of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Mrs. Grazinski purchased a brand new 32-foot Winnebago motor home. On her first trip home, (from an OU football game), having driven onto the freeway, she set the cruise control at 70 mph and calmly left the driver's seat to go into the back & make herself a sandwich. Not surprisingly, the RV left the freeway, crashed and overturned. Mrs. Grazinski sued Winnebago for not advising her in the owner's manual that she couldn't actually do this. The jury awarded her $1,750,000. plus a new motor home. The company actually changed their manuals on the basis of this suit, just in case there were any other complete morons around. I really hope these arent true!! Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

01-19-2007, 09:39 PM	#2
uneniaPhenits Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 684 Senior Member	I really hope these arent true!! You're in luck, they aren't. Its a hoax that was drawn up in one of those godawful chain emails people send around the net. http://www.snopes.com/legal/lawsuits.asp Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

01-19-2007, 09:39 PM	#3
ButKnillinoi Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 495 Senior Member	OMG Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
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01-19-2007, 09:42 PM	#4
steevytraunse Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 467 Senior Member	ye reminds me of the microwave story. This supports the "random usa people answer geography questions"-thread Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

01-19-2007, 10:12 PM	#5
P9CCd35R Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 466 Senior Member	You're in luck, they aren't. Its a hoax that was drawn up in one of those godawful chain emails people send around the net. http://www.snopes.com/legal/lawsuits.asp Quoted again becuase most people will not read it. These are FALSE. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

01-19-2007, 10:13 PM	#6
steevytraunse Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 467 Senior Member	Quoted again becuase most people will not read it. These are FALSE. yet there enough other cases that are just as dumb and 100% true Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

01-19-2007, 10:20 PM	#7
catermos Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 393 Senior Member	Thank God they aren't true. I was getting seriously pissed off reading those. There are quite a bit of similarly stupid court cases in America though. They shouldn't let a jury decide cases like these. The average American citizen is too damn stupid. Let a judge with some common sense decide these kinds of cases. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

01-20-2007, 03:34 AM	#8
oyymoss Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 332 Senior Member	hooray for chain mail / spam Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
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01-20-2007, 04:07 AM	#9
Sopsneork Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 404 Senior Member	The average American citizen is too damn stupid. Let a judge with some common sense decide these kinds of cases. Exactly. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

01-20-2007, 04:19 AM	#10
yatrahnualenu Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 477 Senior Member	Thank God they aren't true. I was getting seriously pissed off reading those. There are quite a bit of similarly stupid court cases in America though. They shouldn't let a jury decide cases like these. The average American citizen is too damn stupid. Let a judge with some common sense decide these kinds of cases. I think a lot of people get awarded money for things that might seem stupid to us (like someone burning themselves on their hot coffee) because the money is needed to pay for the medical expenses (which they wouldn't be able to normally afford). I remember one case a while back in the UK where the coffee was so hot that the child (who was burned) required plastic surgery. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

01-20-2007, 05:00 AM	#11
DurryVony Join Date Nov 2005 Posts 595 Senior Member	I did once see a link to an article about a New Yorker who was arrested for not paying an 18% tip. That seemed pretty stupid to me. here it is Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

01-20-2007, 05:05 AM	#12
gSjQEEmq Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 451 Senior Member	i wish i waznt amerikan so i cood reed wat it sead Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

01-20-2007, 05:41 AM	#13
Hixinfineedom Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 490 Senior Member	Hey and there was me thinking being American is all about being a gun toking, overweighted baboon that enjoys watching the war on Tv while dining on a Domino´s pizza, 12 Bigmac´s, 4 McRibs and a gallon of Coke, which of course was picked up by the gigantic wife with the big gas guzzling suv?! Man was i wrong,.. It´s a joke guys, calm down ! I wouldn´t be making these kind of comments if you guys wouldn´t get so worked up about it ! Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

01-20-2007, 05:54 AM	#14
freflellalafe Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 661 Senior Member	It's sad that you do actually need such a disclaimer on these forums Golemfrost I guess there ain't too many Americans smart enough to understand satire. It´s a joke guys, calm down ! I wouldn´t be making these kind of comments if you guys wouldn´t get so worked up about it ! Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

01-20-2007, 06:06 AM	#15
cajonnmu Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 507 Senior Member	Hey and there was me thinking being American is all about being a gun toking, overweighted baboon that enjoys watching the war on Tv while dining on a Domino´s pizza, 12 Bigmac´s, 4 McRibs and a gallon of Coke, which of course was picked up by the gigantic wife with the big gas guzzling suv?! Man was i wrong,.. What's with all the racism? Why don't you actually visit America? The stereotypes are just a bunch of bullshit, but you europeans are always clinging to them. You are the most arrogant, ignorant group of people, but the funny part (and I use that term lightly) is that you all have this overwhelming superiority complex. Now, I know you germans kicked the crap out of the french, who are the worst offenders of this, but with how much you guys supported hitler, you can see what I am talking about when I mention superiority complex. Now, the Americans kicked the crap out of you, and we don't try and pretend we are better than the europeans. Yet europe thinks it's better than America. Almost funny, but really kind of sad. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

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01-20-2007, 06:15 AM	#16
Hixinfineedom Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 490 Senior Member	lol Thesh, how long have we been on these boards ? Geesh dude you should know that i lived over 13 years in the states,.. And btw, get your history right m8, the US didn´t kick anybodys "ass",.. It was a joint venture where most of the German resources were used on the Russians,.. You guys kicked in after the war was as good as won. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

01-20-2007, 06:19 AM	#17
cajonnmu Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 507 Senior Member	lol Thesh, how long have we been on these boards ? Geesh dude you should know that i lived over 13 years in the states,.. How long have you been on the boards? Of course I know that; if I didn't, I probably wouldn't have made the comment. Dick. And btw, get your history right m8, the US didn´t kick anybodys "ass",.. It was a joint venture where most of the German resources were used on the Russians,.. You guys kicked in after the war was as good as won. So what did you guys do in the war? Beat up the polish and the french, eh? Some accomplishment. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

01-20-2007, 06:23 AM	#18
Hixinfineedom Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 490 Senior Member	I´ll drink to your political correctness,.. @ what did we do ? Well why should i as a anti-war guy boast any of Germanys war achievments ? But what i can say, is for a country smaller than Tx, Germany did some massive damage and made Europe tremble. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

01-20-2007, 06:26 AM	#19
freflellalafe Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 661 Senior Member	Hm, confused. I thought "Surely Golem realises Thesh is playing along with the whole bashing thing and just pissin about", but now I think Golem is also playing along... Damn Internet. Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote

01-20-2007, 06:29 AM	#20
Hixinfineedom Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 490 Senior Member	Hm, confused. I thought "Surely Golem realises Thesh is playing along with the whole bashing thing and just pissin about", but now I think Golem is also playing along... Damn Internet. hehe You´ll never know,... (tbh i don´t even know) /plays the X-files and Twilight zone themesong at the same time ! Share Share this post on Digg Del.icio.us Technorati Twitter
	Quote