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The most outrageous lawsuits filed in the past year have been revealed at the annual Stella Awards held in the US this week. The awards take a light-hearted look at the civil litigation industry that now costs more than $247 billion (£172bn) a year – the equivalent of $825 (£574) per person in the US. They are named after Stella Liebeck of Albuquerque, New Mexico, who successfully sued McDonald's for $2.86 million (£2m) in 1992 after burning herself on coffee that was "too hot". Among the cases featured this year was the Washington lawyer who is suing the dry cleaners...

This would be funny if it weren't true. Congress has passed legislation curbing legal insanity several times, but the prez vetoed it. This is the Legal Reform legislation since Bush took office. Gotta wonder where the loop holes are. As I type this, listening to Jerry Doyle on the radio, he's is telling even a worse abuse. I'll tack it on the end of this message. Rich Martin Editor, Slick eZine   FW: This year's Stella Awards] From: Keith Carter [email deleted]   THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH OUR LEGAL SYSTEM It's once again time to review the winners of...

The Annual "Stella" Awards It's time once again to consider the candidates for the Annual Stella Awards. The Stella's are named after 81-year-old Stella Liebeck who spilled coffee on herself and successfully sued McDonalds.That case inspired the Stella awards for the most frivolous successful lawsuits in the United States. The following are this year's candidates: 1. 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...

Most of the country has heard of the Darwin Awards given annually to the individuals who do the most for mankind by removing themselves from the gene pool. Now, we have the Stella Awards given to the individuals who win the most frivolous lawsuits ever. The Stella Awards are named in honor of 81 year-old Stella Liebeck, the woman who won $2.9 million for spilling a cup of McDonald's coffee on herself. The following are candidates for the award: 1. January 2000: Kathleen Robertson of Austin, Texas, was awarded $780,000 by a jury of her peers after breaking her ankle,...