'Monkey business' tops list of year’s most ridiculous lawsuits

Monkeyselfie

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The U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) issued its "Top Ten Most Ridiculous Lawsuits for 2015" on Monday with an animal rights group’s suit involving a monkey’s "selfie" photo topping the survey.

The ILR's released its list, including a video of highlighting each case, to raise awareness about frivolous lawsuits.

“These stories will make you laugh, but sadly, frivolous lawsuits are all too common,” ILR President Lisa Rickard said. “As a society we’re too quick to sue, and issues that could be settled outside of the courtroom result in expensive and unnecessary litigation and wasted time.”

As well as the group suing on behalf of a monkey, the list of trivial lawsuits includes a variety of scenarios.

In New York, an 8-year-old’s aunt sued him for an overly exuberant hug that hurt her; two Manhattan women suffering superficial scratches and resultant “trauma” from a distant explosion in New York City’s East Village raised a furor with their filing, not being among the two people killed or the 22 others severely wounded.

A California bank robber sued over injuries incurred while fleeing the scene of the crime. A Pennsylvania nursing student sued her school for not providing accommodations for her anxiety after twice failing a course. An incarcerated Colorado man sued the NFL when the Cowboys lost the playoff due to an overturned call.

Two cases echoed a 1994 McDonald's case when a jury awarded a large sum to a burn victim. In North Carolina, a Raleigh police officer sued Starbucks after scalding himself with hot coffee that was given to him free. In California, a woman allegedly faked a similar injury by downloading Internet photos and presenting them as evidence. She in turn now faces 21 counts of fraud.

In a Missouri restaurant where servers traditionally toss rolls to diners, a woman went to court claiming an eye injury; and in Florida, a woman tripped over a package left on her doorstep, so she filed against FedEx, arguing that she was not properly informed of the box’s proximity to her door.

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