The most ridiculous lawsuits of 2013 showed us that rather than the justice system having adapted to and cut down on cases of outlandish claims for compensation from people looking to score some easy money, such frivolous lawsuits are instead only becoming even more commonplace. Not only that, they are becoming ever sillier in their content, so silly that you likely won’t believe any of the following lawsuits are actually real.
As we showcased in a previous article on the Top 7 Most Unbelievable Lawsuits, people are getting ever more creative in how they profess the world has caused them injustice. That countdown showed among other cases, that one man even tried suing the big man upstairs, God himself, for failing to protect him from the evils of the world. The man’s case, in which he demanded his previous religious donations be returned to him for breach of heavenly contract, was eventually thrown out.
Now we’re back with a newer list of wild claims and bold allegations, consisting of the most ridiculous lawsuits of 2013. Could any of them top the craziness found on our previous rankings? Read on to find out.
10. Tennessee Man Files Suit Against Apple for Becoming Addicted to Porn
A man from Tennessee claimed to have become addicted to pornography after mistakenly visiting an adult website, and sued Apple for not blocking those sites. According to his lawsuit, Apple should sell all its devices in ‘safe mode’, with software preset to filter out pornographic contents.
We’re just getting started on the countdown of the most ridiculous lawsuits of 2013. Read on for the wildest court cases from that year.
9. Arizona Shop Owner Sued by Injured Robber
Scott LaFonte was a robber who allegedly took merchandise without paying the shop owner Michael Lewis. Lewis took a gun from his car, chased after him, and fired a warning shot in the air. Aftermath: LaFonte sued Lewis claiming the lack of a store policy regarding the safe and lawful use of firearms, and also asking for recompense for his indistinct injuries, including lost income and medical expenses. A judge finally dismissed this ridiculous suit two years after the incident.
8. Graduate Student Sues School Over Poor Grade
Megan Thode, a graduate student at Lehigh University, filed a civil suit for $1.3 million for a violation of contract and sexual discrimination after receiving a C+ grade. Since her father is a professor, she attended the university for free. She claims that she was the target of a conspiracy, but her professors state the poor grade is due to her unprofessional behavior in class, such as using profanities. A judge rejected her ludicrous claim in February, 2013.
7. Customer Sues Bob Evan’s Restaurant Over Hostess’ Offensive Actions
Joel Acey is the man who sued a hostess of Bob Evan’s restaurant in West Virgina. He claims that after entering the restaurant he asked to be seated in the front section, to which the hostess refused and led him to the back. She then proceeded to slam the menu on the table and called him ‘a damned idiot’. Being disgruntled with the manager’s apology and the offer of a free meal, he filed a lawsuit instead. After all, being called an idiot could scar a man for life; or at least, an idiot for life.
6. New York Adult Sues Parents for their Indifference to his Problems
Bernard Bey, a 32-year-old man, sued his parents for $200,000 to open up two Domino’s pizza franchise restaurants. His lawsuit states that because of their indifference or insensitivity to their children’s problems, relationships, poverty, and state of life, it has led to deep-rooted wounds that will never be healed.
5. Two New Jersey Men Sue Subway for Serving Small Sandwiches
Two New Jersey men sued Subway because their ‘footlong‘ sub sandwiches suffered from shrinkage and checked it at only 11 inches (apparently they had a ruler with them to measure them). A Manhattan shop owner also claimed that the company has decreased its cold-cut sizes by 25% recently. The lawyer in this absurd suit is seeking class-action status for it.
4. West Virginia Woman Sues Over Severe Injuries, Runs Half-Marathon Months Later
Erica Tamburin, a West Virginia woman, filed a suit against Cabela’s, the proprietor of the parking lot where her alleged accident took place. She claims that she suffered severe injuries because of the accident, however less than six months afterwards, she ran a half-marathon, finishing 50 out of 173, claiming the injuries didn’t keep her from completing the race. She also listed her daughter’s name on the lawsuit, for allegedly losing the service and comfort of her mother.
3. Father Sues New Jersey School Over Punishment His Son Received
Ervin Mears Jr., father of a student from a New Jersey school sued the county for $40 million, after the school kicked his son off the track team for his excessive absences. He claims on behalf of his son that a family death and leg injury can account for the absences, and also claims his son was oppressed and harassed by the school authority before being kicked off the team. The suit further claims that the team coach chose seniors over the child in question for races, despite him running faster than them.
2. Ohio Teacher Sues Her District Over Fear of Children
Maria C. Waltherr-Willard, a 61-year-old school teacher at the Mariemont school sued her school district for discrimination when she was reassigned from a high school to a middle school. She claims that she suffers from pedophobia, an extreme fear of young children which results in her feeling stressful and anxious around them, having nightmares, suffering chest pains, vomiting, and having high blood pressure when she spends time around young children. A federal judge discharged three of her six claims in January 2013.
1. Idaho Inmates Sue Alcohol Companies Over the Dangers of Alcohol
A group of five prisoners at a Kuna, Idaho prison facility sued eight alcohol companies for not warning them adequately of the dangers and health hazards of alcohol. One of those inmates states that he has spent a great deal of time in prison because of circumstances that have arisen because of people being drunk or because of situations in which alcohol played a major role. Others claim that they would never have started drinking if they had known about alcohol’s addictive nature. Perhaps they should’ve looked into then before starting?