What is the longest lawsuit in history?

Asked by: Noemi Waelchi  |  Last update: December 26, 2023
Score: 4.9/5 (43 votes)

Lasting for more than fifty years, the Myra Clark Gaines litigation is known as the longest case in US history, beginning around 1834 and culminating in a ruling in her favor and against the City of New Orleans in 1889.

What was the longest lawsuit ever?

Myra Clark Gaines' 19th century fight over an enormous inheritance is still the longest-running civil lawsuit in American history, taking over 60 years to finally find some kind of resolution. The United States Supreme Court called her case "the most remarkable in the records."

What was the longest-running civil case?

The Berhampore case is also mentioned in the National Judicial Data Grid as the oldest one to be heard in any Indian court. The case started after the Calcutta High Court ordered the insolvent Berhampore Bank to wind up operations on November 19, 1948.

What was the most expensive lawsuit ever?

The largest lawsuit in history was the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement in November 1998. This lawsuit resulted in a record-breaking settlement of $206 billion, paid by major tobacco companies to 46 US states to cover public health-care costs related to tobacco-induced illnesses.

What was the first class action lawsuit ever?

In 1820, class actions were implemented into American jurisprudence due to the opinion of West v. Randall, one of the earliest class actions in the United States.

Longest Case in Australia History - Family Court Chaos - Mystery&Makeup | Bailey Sarian

43 related questions found

What is the biggest lawsuit ever for one person?

$150 Billion For The Family of Robert Middleton

In 1998, eight-year-old Robert Middleton was sexually assaulted, doused in gasoline, and lit on fire by then 13-year-old Don Collins. Middleton received burns over 99 percent of his body. The story shocked the world, but the tragic tale was far from over.

Who has the biggest lawsuit in US history?

Number 1: The 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement

The 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement is also the biggest civil litigation settlement in US history. At USD246 billion, it is unlikely to be beaten any time soon. The case was brought against all the major tobacco companies by more than 40 US states.

What is the dumbest lawsuit award?

The Stella Awards are given for the most frivolous lawsuits in the United States.

What is the most ridiculous lawsuit?

Subway Sandwich Lawsuit

A man found a 7 inch serrated plastic knife baked into his subway sandwich and decided to sue the company for damages. He filed a $1 million lawsuit, he also said he contracted food poisoning from the sandwich, leading to severe stomach aches. The personal injury claim was settled.

How much did Pfizer get sued for?

— -- In the largest health care fraud settlement in history, pharmaceutical giant Pfizer must pay $2.3 billion to resolve criminal and civil allegations that the company illegally promoted uses of four of its drugs, including the painkiller Bextra, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Wednesday.

What is the longest case in the US?

Myra Clark Gaines (c. June 30, 1804 – January 9, 1885) was an American socialite and plaintiff in the longest-running lawsuit in the history of the United States court system.

What is the shortest court case ever?

Answer: Unbelievably, one minute! According to Guinness World Records, on 22 July 2004 Nicholas McAllister was acquitted in New Zealand's Greymouth District Court of growing cannabis plants. The jury left to consider the verdict at 3.28pm and returned at 3.29 pm.

Which court only hears around 100 cases per year?

Federal courts of appeals routinely handle more than 50,000 cases each year. Ten percent or fewer of those decisions are appealed to the Supreme Court, which in turn hears oral arguments in fewer than 100 cases annually.

What is the biggest type of lawsuit?

Big Tobacco Settlement

Big tobacco had been involved in lawsuits for more than 25 years. As a result of this enormous class action suit, the four tobacco manufacturers were required to pay over $206 billion to claimants. They also pay $9 billion annually in perpetuity.

What is the most common lawsuit in America?

Car Accident Lawsuits

Car accidents are one of the most common types of personal injury lawsuits.

What is the longest class action lawsuit?

The Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement — reached in 1998 between the four largest cigarette manufacturers in the United States and attorneys general of 46 states, five US territories, and the District of Columbia — required the tobacco companies to pay out more than $206 billion to the included states over 25 years, ...

Whose parents sue for $50 million?

NEW YORK -- The parents of Gabby Petito have filed a $50 million wrongful death lawsuit against the Moab, Utah, Police Department. They say officers failed to protect the 22-year-old during a domestic call involving her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, during their road trip last summer.

What is the dumbest reason someone got sued?

Two McDonald's customers from Florida sued the fast-food chain for $5 million because they were made to pay for a Quarter Pounder sandwich without cheese the same price as the sandwich with cheese (the difference is about 30 cents). A judge dismissed the case with prejudice, which means they can't file the suit again.

Which company is sued the most?

The Most Sued Companies in America
  • WFC-1.25%+ Free Alerts. , Ally Financial/GMAC and Bank of America.
  • BAC-0.83%+ Free Alerts. , have the highest number of lawsuits. ...
  • C-0.74%+ Free Alerts. , JPMorgan.
  • JPM-0.85%+ Free Alerts. , Goldman Sachs.
  • GS+0.03%+ Free Alerts. and Morgan Stanley.
  • MS-0.81%+ Free Alerts. ...
  • USB-0.92%+ Free Alerts.

Which state has the most frivolous lawsuits?

Washington, DC, Dec. 07, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The most litigious locales in the nation earned the title of “Judicial Hellhole®,” according to the latest report by the American Tort Reform Foundation (ATRF). California regained its position at the top as the worst Judicial Hellhole®.

What is the most frivolous lawsuit?

Frivolous lawsuits happen often, but despite some involving some petty accidents in unusual locations, there may be a good reason we hear about these "outlandish" cases so often. We all know the most famous frivolous lawsuit story. Stella Liebeck sued McDonald's back in 1992 when she spilled hot coffee on herself.

How to be a millionaire lawsuit?

Disney loses $319 million appeal in lawsuit over profits from the popular 'Who Wants to be a Millionaire' TV series. A jury decided in 2010 that Disney hid profits from the show's creator; Disney loses the $319 million appeal two years later.

How many lawsuits has Trump ever filed?

From the 1980s until he was elected president in 2016, Donald Trump and his businesses were involved in over 4,000 legal cases in U.S. federal and state courts, including battles with casino patrons, million-dollar real estate lawsuits, personal defamation lawsuits, and over 100 business tax disputes.

What was Pfizer's criminal fine for?

WASHINGTON — The pharmaceutical giant Pfizer agreed to pay $2.3 billion to settle civil and criminal allegations that it had illegally marketed its painkiller Bextra, which has been withdrawn. It was the largest health care fraud settlement and the largest criminal fine of any kind ever.

Is Pfizer guilty of bribing doctors?

Pfizer has been a “habitual offender,” persistently engaging in illegal and corrupt marketing practices, bribing physicians and suppressing adverse trial results. Since 2002 the company and its subsidiaries have been assessed $3 billion in criminal convictions, civil penalties and jury awards.