The Most Unique Lawsuits of the Past 10 Years (And Their Outcomes)

The common myth that the American court system is bursting at the seams with frivolous lawsuits is just that—a myth. This myth is sometimes so pervasive that it can hurt the public’s perception of the entire system and even influence jurors’ decision-making. The truth is that the civil justice system protects Americans from the greed and negligence of individuals, corporations, and organizations. The truth is that it’s those very individuals, corporations, and organizations that want the world to continue thinking that civil suits are the problem.

Some lawsuits are surrounded by unusual circumstances, but this doesn’t mean they were born of frivolity. Just because a headline seems silly, doesn’t mean the lawsuit isn’t a serious one. If someone has been injured due to negligence or otherwise wronged, the civil justice system is here to protect. Here’s a collection of some of the most unique lawsuits from the past decade, along with the outcomes of those cases.

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Man Sues His Wife Over Their “Ugly” Baby

Back in 2012, a man took his wife to court after the birth of their daughter because the man was absolutely shocked at how “ugly” the child was. Initially, he accused his wife of having an affair, but the woman eventually admitted to her husband that before she met him, she had had about $80,000 worth of plastic surgery done, which she never told him about. A judge awarded the man $98,354.17, saying that his wife swindled him into having children with her.

Does Red Bull Give You Wings?

In 2014, Red Bull’s slogan that it “gives you wings” got them into trouble. While the claim was never meant to be taken literally, it still landed the energy drink maker in court after disappointed drinkers of the product sued the company, claiming that these advertisements led consumers to believe that by drinking Red Bull, they would experience a boost in their physical performance. As a result of this legal battle, the company agreed to pay out a $13 million settlement, which would come in the form of either a check for $10 or a gift certificate for $15 worth of Red Bull beverages.

First Date Gone Wrong

What’s the worst first date that you’ve ever been on? One man from Texas made international news back in 2017 after he sued a woman following what he referred to as “the first date from hell.” Brandon Vezmar met a woman on Bumble, a dating app, and took her out on a date. He became angry on the date, as according to him, she spent the entire night looking at her cell phone. He actually sued his date for $17.31, which was the cost of taking her to see a movie that night. So that Vezmar would just drop the case and leave her alone, the woman gave him back his $17.31.

Woman Sues After Bad Hair Appointment

In Australia in 2018, a woman sued a hair salon, claiming that a stylist at the salon completely ruined her hair with a botched dye job. Jessica Bray claimed that the stylist at the Saint James Hair Studio in Melbourne did such a terrible job bleaching her roots that her hair actually fell out! A refund wouldn’t suffice for Bray, who went on to sue the salon for roughly $30,000, citing wig expenses and humiliation. The court felt that the lawsuit was “excessive” but did award the woman $400.