When you think of lawyers and lawsuits, you probably think of some pretty serious stuff. And for the most part you’d be correct. But it turns out that some court cases are quite weird — How about someone seeking legal action for ghosts (as an example)? So, here are 12 of the most outrageous lawsuits you’re likely to ever hear about.
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Ghost in the House
In 1991, a man in New York found out that his house was haunted. He learned that the previous owner had publicly talked about the ghosts but hadn’t mentioned it to him—so he decided to sue. The court actually sided with him & agreed that sellers should disclose their homes’ paranormal guests. Who would’ve thought it?
The Case of the Missing Pants
Suing someone over a pair of pants sounds pretty ridiculous but in 2007, a Washington D.C. judge did just that. He took his dry cleaner to court for a whopping $54 million because they lost his trousers. According to him, the loss caused him immense stress but the courts didn’t agree. They threw the case out.
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Wrong Weather Report
In 2000, an Israeli woman sued a TV station because their weatherman got the forecast wrong. He predicted sunny weather but it rained, ruining her day and apparently causing her to catch a cold. She asked for $1,000 for her troubles—believe it or not, she won! Who would’ve known there’s much responsibility with predicting the weather?
Misleading Movie Trailer
A Michigan woman once went to the movie theater to see “Drive” and she expected a high-speed & action-packed movie—think “Fast and Furious.” But the film was more of a slow-burn drama. She felt so cheated by the mismatch that she sued for the cost of her ticket! However, the court didn’t support her complaint. They dismissed the entire case.
Disappointing Beer Ads
Again in Michigan, a group of people filed a lawsuit against Anheuser-Busch in 1991 after they bought beer that didn’t turn their lives into the beach party paradise as advertised. They claimed the ads promised things didn’t happen & they wanted $10,000 for their disappointment. As you might expect, the courts dismissed the case.
Turbulent Flight Terrors
Flying can be stressful—but one passenger took it to the next level. She sued an airline for the emotional trauma caused by a rough landing in 2009! Originally, the flight was meant to be only twenty minutes long although turbulence turned this into two hours. The passenger was later diagnosed with PTSD and now fears flying.
Birthday Song Battle
Who knew “Happy Birthday” could cause such a commotion? In 2013, a group sued Warner/Chappell Music after the music company claimed they owned copyright to the song. The lawsuit said the song should be in the public domain. Eventually, the court agreed in 2016 and Warner/Chappell Music was forced to pay back $14 million for falsely claiming copyright.
The Million Dollar X-Box
In 2009, US Airways lost a Yale student’s X-Box, which included specialized parts (as per the student). But instead of shrugging it off, he sued them for $1 million! As part of the claim, the student said the lost item was irreplaceable. Let this case be a lesson to everyone—you should never check in high value electronics!
The Overfilled Soda Cup
In 2016, a customer filed a lawsuit against Starbucks after claiming they filled his soda cup with too much ice. Essentially, he argues that they skimped on the soda & misled customers. The court didn’t sip this story, though, with the judge completely dismissing the claim. They said that even children knew to expect less liquid if they ordered a drink with ice!
Sued for a Billion-Year Contract
A former member of the Church of Scientology filed a lawsuit once against the organization. He argued that he was misled into signing a billion-year contract & forced into labor—at the age of six. As such, he filed a suit for damages for the years of hardship & abuse he alleged he suffered. The courts ruled that they could use arbitration to solve this case and the former members have filed a motion to rethink this decision.
A Sweet Tooth’s Disappointment
Have you ever been upset because your sweet treat didn’t look like the picture on the package? Well, a man in Illinois felt that way and sued Dreyer’s because their ice cream didn’t look the way it tasted! He said Dreyer’s misled him by not making it clear that the ice cream included coconut oil—even though it was clearly listed on the ingredients list four times. As you might expect, his claims were later dismissed.
Flying Golf Balls
In Massachusetts, one couple sued a golf course because golf balls kept flying onto their property! They described being hit by numerous golf balls and sued the golf course. Originally, the Supreme Court awarded them $5 million in damages but this was later reversed. Ouch!
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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