The American Justice System Update

I found the story that included my forgotten details in a book titled Unusually Stupid Americans. Two professional carpet installers sued the company who made the carpet adhesive that they used when it exploded and burned them. The product explicitly said "Do not use indoors because of flammability." However, the jurors said that the warning label did not provide enough warning and the men were awarded $4M apiece. I put the blame on the 'professional' carpet installers, who chose to buy carpet adhesive that prohibited its indoor use.

Some other outrageous lawsuits that held up in court include: $24K awarded to a San Francisco mugger who sued the cab driver who used his cab to pin the mugger against a building, $2.2M awarded to a convenience store worker for hurting her back trying to open a pickle jar (including $170K for emotional distress), and $14.1M awarded to a woman because she was hit by a subway. She had been lying on the tracks in an attempt to commit suicide. While I feel blessed to live in the United States of America, I am ashamed that its judicial system allows these kinds of lawsuits to even enter a courtroom.