The Stella Awards(2)
Posted by
Dan FrithFebruary 01, 2008 1:24 PMSure you have heard about them...the Stella Awards! The awards are named after that lady who recovered millions of dollars from McDonald's after spilling coffee in her lap! The award draws needed attention to the thousands of frivilous lawsuits filed every year by unscruptulous plaintiffs and their greedy lawyers!
But, do you know the real truth? I bet not!
The "Stella Awards" is a collection of urban legends and fake legal cases designed to perpetuate the myth that there is a 'lawsuit crisis' in America. The fictitious "awards" are named after an elderly woman who was severely burned due to the negligence of a greedy corporation. But did you know these facts about Stella:
Stella Liebeck wanted only to be reimbursed for the cost of her medical treatment alone and to settle the case,but McDonald's opposed her request and took the case to trial. Stella was severely injured. At 79 years old, she suffered third degree burnsto her legs and genitals, was hospitalized for over a week, and had to have multiple skin grafts.
McDonald's lost--a jury of American citizens heard the evidence and decided against the company.
During discovery, McDonald's produced documents showing more than 700 claims by other people burned by its coffee over a 10 year period and still refused to sell its coffee at a safe temperature.
The Stella Awards are baloney! Many are made up but reported in your local newspaper, and by other media outlets, as true examples of a tort system which is out of control! Want to hear some more Stella Award winners which exist merely in the imagination of others? How about these:
A woman who supposedly sued a furniture store after tripping over her own son. No such case or plaintiff exists. A man who, assuming the vehicle would drive itself, sued Winnebago after setting the cruise control at 70 mph, left his seat and went to the galley to make a cup of coffee, and then was surprised when it crashed. Neither the incident, nor any lawsuit exists.
A woman who sued a restaurant after she threw a drink on her boyfriend and slipped on the floor. Again, there is no record of any such lawsuit.
A woman sued a nightclub after falling through a bathroom window and knocking out her teeth while trying to sneak in to the club without paying a cover charge. Neither the case nor the plaintiff is real.