Junk Lawsuits
Lawsuit Over Bathroom Mirror 2 Inches Too High
In the restroom of a family-owned restaurant in Southern California, employees replaced a mirror that had been destroyed by vandals. Since the new mirror was two inches shorter than the old one, it was hanging two inches too high to satisfy disabilities regulations and standards. Once he was notified of the mistake, restaurant owner Ron Piazza immediately lowered the mirror. But it was already too late. Piazza’s restaurant was sued.
"It would have been very easy for them to let us know that the mirror was a couple of inches too high, and we could have taken care of that right away," Piazza explained.
Read the full story at FacesOfLawsuitAbuse.org
Family Business Facing More Than 100 Lawsuits Teeters on the Brink
In the last five years, Monroe Rubber and Gasket — a family business in Monroe, Louisiana — has been sued in more than 100 asbestos suits by over 2000 plaintiffs. More than a decade ago, the business ordered a material containing encapsulated asbestos for customers who requested it. Encapsulated asbestos fibers are treated with a coating intended to prevent airborne release. The materials Monroe Rubber and Gasket handled are still legal, and tests showed that no harmful dust had been released into the air.
But that did not stop Monroe Rubber and Gasket from being sued. “I didn’t quite understand why we were receiving these [lawsuits] based on what we do here,” said owner Mike Carter.
Read the full story at FacesOfLawsuitAbuse.org
Bike-riding Doctor Sues Roller-Blading 11-Year-Old
When Lauren Ellis was 11-years-old, she was rollerblading in front of her house. From behind her, she heard a noise, and someone called "watch out." She looked over her shoulder, and, seconds later, she was hit by a bicyclist.
"When I went out there and I saw that this man had run over my daughter, I was angry," said Lauren’s mother, Janet. "Immediately, it went into my head, it was an accident."
Unfortunately, the cyclist, an adult neighbor, did not think so. He sued 11-year-old Lauren and, later, her family. "We were flabbergasted," said Jon Ellis, Lauren’s father.
