What is the most ridiculous lawsuit ever?

Asked by: Nova Bauch  |  Last update: August 10, 2025
Score: 4.9/5 (66 votes)

One of the most famously ridiculous lawsuits happened in 1994, when a woman sued McDonald's for spilling hot coffee on her lap. McDonald's attempted to argue that everyone knows coffee is hot, and it was her own fault for spilling coffee all over herself.

What is the most ridiculous thing someone has been sued for?

We all know the most famous frivolous lawsuit story. Stella Liebeck sued McDonald's back in 1992 when she spilled hot coffee on herself. "But coffee is meant to be hot" we all cry. Dig a little deeper into the case however and it starts to look less frivolous.

What is the biggest lawsuit of all time?

The Biggest Lawsuit Ever: The Tobacco Settlement — $206 Billion.

What is the most famous frivolous lawsuit?

Liebeck v. McDonald's Restaurants. The notorious McDonald's hot coffee case is often used as a shining example of a frivolous lawsuit.

What was the longest lawsuit ever?

Introduction. 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."

The Most Ridiculous Lawsuits Ever

41 related questions found

What is the biggest lawsuit ever won by a single person?

Tobacco Awards

However, there have been two awards to individuals that top the list of personal injury amounts. In 2002, a California jury awarded Betsy Bullock $28 billion who began smoking at 17 and developed lung cancer which spread to her liver at the age of 64.

What was the biggest court case ever?

Marbury v. Madison, arguably the most important case in Supreme Court history, was the first U.S. Supreme Court case to apply the principle of "judicial review" -- the power of federal courts to void acts of Congress in conflict with the Constitution.

What happens if you sue yourself?

Takeaway 1: It is generally not possible to sue yourself in a court of law as this would be considered a conflict of interest. Takeaway 2: The legal system typically does not allow for individuals to be both the defendant and plaintiff in the same case.

What is the largest defamation lawsuits in history?

Marking one of the largest defamation awards in U.S. history, conspiracy theorist Alex Jones was ordered to pay approximately $1 billion in actual damages to the families of the victims of the Sandy Hook school shooting.

What is the lawsuit against Crocs and the case of the shrinking shoes?

Crocs class action lawsuit overview:

A new class action lawsuit alleges American footwear company Crocs failed to alert consumers that its Crocs shoes are made of a material called Croslite that shrinks upon exposure to ordinary heat and/or direct sunlight.

Can I sue McDonald's for E. coli?

E. coli can be a very unpleasant infection, and some cases are deadly serious. A customer made sick by food served at McDonald's might be able to sue the company for damages, depending on the situation. Possible damages include the cost of medical bills and potential medical complications if your condition worsens.

What drug company fined $3 billion?

The settlement amount includes both the civil (False Claims Act) settlement and criminal fine. Glaxo's $3 billion settlement included the largest civil False Claims Act settlement on record, and Pfizer's $2.3 billion ($3.5 billion in 2022) settlement including a record-breaking $1.3 billion criminal fine.

What is the highest wrongful death settlement?

The highest wrongful death settlement was $160 million.

What is the highest paid lawsuit in history?

1998 – The Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement – $206 Billion. The Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement was entered in November 1998 and is still the largest lawsuit settlement in history.

Which lawyers get sued the most?

Areas of Practice With the Highest Frequency
  1. Personal Injury and Property Damage – Plaintiff. ...
  2. Collections and Bankruptcy. ...
  3. Real Estate. ...
  4. Estate, Trust and Probate. ...
  5. Family Law. ...
  6. Business Transaction / Commercial Law.

Can you get sued for $1,000?

The decision to sue often depends on the debt's size (usually a minimum of $1,000), age, and original agreements. Debt collection practices for unpaid credit card balances frequently lead to court cases.

What famous celebrity has a defamation case?

9 Landmark Defamation Cases
  • New York Times Co. v. ...
  • Hustler Magazine v. Falwell (1988) ...
  • Depp v. Heard (2022) ...
  • Gibson's Bakery v. Oberlin College (2019) ...
  • Blurred Lines: Music Copyright Infringement (2015) ...
  • Sarah Palin v. ...
  • Shiva Ayyadurai v. ...
  • Smartmatic v.

Is it worth suing for slander?

In general, pursuing a defamation lawsuit may be worthwhile if: The defamatory statement(s) are demonstrably false and have caused significant harm to your reputation or career. You have strong evidence to support your claim. The potential damages are substantial enough to justify the costs and risks of litigation.

What is the longest lawsuit in history?

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 if the person you sue has no money?

The California statute of limitations for filing a judgment is ten years. If the debtor cannot pay or complete payment within this time, you must renew the judgment. The judgment must continue to be renewed to ensure the debtor pays the full amount.

Has anyone ever tried to sue God?

In 1969, Arizonan lawyer Russel T. Tansie filed a suit against God on behalf of his secretary, Betty Penrose, seeking $100,000 in damages. Penrose blamed God for his "negligence" in allowing a lightning bolt to strike her house.

How much money is enough to sue?

In general, claims are limited to disputes up to $5,000. However, natural persons (individuals) can claim up to $10,000. Corporations, partnerships, unincorporated associations, governmental bodies, and other legal entities cannot claim more than $5,000.

What was the stupidest court case?

McDonald's Hot Coffee

One of the most famously ridiculous lawsuits happened in 1994, when a woman sued McDonald's for spilling hot coffee on her lap.

What is the rule of four?

The “rule of four” is the Supreme Court's practice of granting a petition for review only if there are at least four votes to do so. The rule is an unwritten internal one; it is not dictated by any law or the Constitution.

How many court cases has Donald Trump have?

From 1973 until he was elected president in 2016, Donald Trump and his businesses were involved in over 4,000 legal cases in United States federal and state courts, including battles with casino patrons, million-dollar real estate lawsuits, personal defamation lawsuits, and over 100 business tax disputes.