I keep wondering about this question... I think I saw in the news a while back that someone sued McDonalds because they spilled coffee on themselves and got burnt. Hello! It's coffee! It's supposed to be hot. You should NOT be able to sue someone because you're stupid. The same with smokers suing the big tobacco companies because they get lung cancer from smoking cigarettes. Everybody knows that smoking is bad for you and causes all kinds of health problems. I'm a smoker, and I know it's my own fault if I get lung cancer or heart disease because I'm the one who keeps lighting up. The tobacco companies didn't shove the cigarette in my mouth, light it for me, and force me to smoke it. It's the same with all the other smokers out there. No one's forcing you to smoke, and you know the consequences, so why do you have the right to sue for millions of dollars when you get lung cancer?
2006-07-06 07:19:01 · 9 answers · asked by j.f. 4 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Maybe you should go and READ the cases.
In McDonald's case the MacDonald's kept their coffee 40 (!!!!) degrees hotter then anybody else. Thus the coffee presented MUCH higher burning hazard then standard coffee. When reports of injuries started to come-in McDonald's have ignored them and issued memos saying to keep the temperature the same.
Then an old women incidentally knocked coffee over herself and was unable to take of her pants fast, she suffered 3-rd degree burns went to a hospital for 4 month and had extensive surgeries done.[1]
The lawsuit was hardly stupid, McDonald's repeated refusal to lower the temperature of their coffee has led to a horrific injury.
Similarly, in tobacco cases people are suing them, because tobacco companies COVERED up the hazards of smoking. NOW that the dangers are known the new smokers cannot sue the Tobacco industry.
2006-07-06 09:10:39 · answer #1 · answered by hq3 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
You make a very good point lol and I completely agree!
I honestly didn't know it was possible/legal to sue McDonald's for spilling coffee on yourself...lol...that's just bizarre. The same goes for smokers suing tobacco companies. It's their own stupid mistakes that they have to pay the consequences for.
Why does this happen, you ask? Well I'll tell you the same thing I tell everybody. The stupid people in charge of this world are even stupider than the people they are trying to control.
2006-07-06 07:25:24 · answer #2 · answered by miss_gem_01 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In regards to the tobacco companies: For many, many years prior to recent history (70's?) they claimed that there was nothing wrong with tobacco products or smoking cigarettes. They said it was perfectly healthy. So many people continued to smoke trusting the tobacco companies.
Sure, nowadays we know, but back then everyone was ignorant, and the tobacco companies took no responsibility in educating the consumer. They even marketed their product to children in hopes to get them while their young. Think of them as drug dealers, only their product is legal, but completly unhealthy.
The ones with lung cancer were old. They were suing for the years of misinformation that the tobacco companies fed them. The outright lies that they told to sell their unhealthy product.
After all this publicity noone should ever sue the tobacco companies again. Now it is common knowledge, and there are warning on the package.
As far as the hot coffee goes, I totally agree with you. Its not like McDonalds was telling people the coffee wasn't hot.
2006-07-06 07:29:12 · answer #3 · answered by scott j 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, there are SOME cases that have merrit, sometimes products are misleading. For example, the old Polio vaccine had a miniscule chance of infecting someone who isn't immunized that had contact with the recently immunized. This company did not make it clear that this circumstance could happen, and WHAM instant 10 million dollar lawsuit.
However there are just some stupid people out there, and besides, just because you CAN sue, doesn't mean you'll win.
2006-07-06 07:25:47 · answer #4 · answered by sneakyninja 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Due to a belief in America today that someone else is responsible for what happens to me. The media does not help the problem by broadcasting all these court cases tried by the leftist lawyers. Murder is murder and using ignorance as an excuse to get money or get away with things is not right.
2006-07-06 07:47:38 · answer #5 · answered by btgoral 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's the nature of the beast. We live in a litigious society. People sue because they feel the need to be compensated for every injustice that happened to them. People know that there is a risk that their case will lose, but with the possibility of winning a big money settlement, the risk is worth it. It's all about the money. Everybody wants money. People act weird with their own money, their friends money, and everybody elses money. So consequently, isn't it natural to assume that people trying to attain money, act weird in their pursuits of money.
2006-07-06 07:59:24 · answer #6 · answered by wackyguy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
this is a no brainer.i agree these are really stupied reason to sue for anything. but when other people take justice into there own hands to teach someone a lesson . because they do not care for this person.wow judge jury and lets kill the sob sorry not my way
2006-07-06 07:32:01 · answer #7 · answered by maryann v 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
First, to answer thr question, we are a nation of morons for the most part, and Lawyers on the rest part. Now, a good joke,....
You smoke..the residue of your habit is second-hand smoke. This drifts around, getting into my hair and clothes.
I drink beer...the residue of my habit is urine. Would you like it if I peed in your hair and on your Clothes??
2006-07-06 07:26:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's the only way lawyers can make any money. lol, I think it's stupid also. I have a cousin that's a sue happy person and it's the way he makes his living. they need to change the laws.
2006-07-06 07:23:19 · answer #9 · answered by pohter1 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋