Personal injury lawyers filed a class action against Southwest Airlines over changes to a program that provided free drinks for business-class passengers.

How do you think the case turned out?

• Southwest sent a cash reimbursement to people who were unable to redeem their vouchers.
• Southwest had to write an apology letter to every business-class customer.
• A judge threw out the case, arguing that if business-class passengers wanted to have more money for drinks, they could fly in coach.

A California mother filed a lawsuit against Nutella, claiming that she was unaware that the product wasn’t as healthy as she thought, despite the nutritional labeling on the back of the package.

What do you think happened?

• The judge threw out the suit, reasoning that responsible mothers check the labeling on packages.
• The judge ruled against the mother, and required her to pay Nutella’s court costs.
• This lawsuit never happened - there’s no way a lawsuit like this would ever be filed!

Plaintiffs’ lawyers filed a class action lawsuit against a car manufacturer, claiming that its cars were not delivering the gas mileage advertised, despite the fact that advertisements used fuel economy ratings provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

How do you think the suit turned out?

• A judge dismissed the suit, since the EPA had verified the mileage used in advertisements.
• Consumers received cash payments for the extra money they spent on gas for their less fuel efficient cars.
• Plaintiffs’ lawyers donated their profits from the case to research to develop more fuel efficient cars.

Lawyers filed a suit against Blitz USA, a gas can manufacturer, for injuries caused when people poured gasoline onto hot embers.

How did this lawsuit end?

• The judge ruled that it was the consumers’ responsibility to not pour gas onto fire and dismissed the case.
• Blitz USA filed a countersuit, claiming that its products had never been called unsafe by the “Consumer Product Safety Commission.”
• The plaintiff won the case and invested the winnings in a new commercial campaign to inform consumers about safety precautions around flammable items.

A woman smuggled in a 7-pound poodle in her purse and put it on the table a sushi restaurant. The managers asked her to go to the patio where dogs are allowed and she went. Afterward, she sued the business for discrimination, claiming that she’s disabled and a dog on the table keeps her stabilized.

How do you think the lawsuit turned out?

• The case was thrown immediately, because having a dog on a table is not a proven medical treatment.
• The jury found the woman’s claims to lack merit, and the restaurant owner recouped all his attorney fees.
• A judge dismissed the case, but required the restaurant owner to place signs saying that dogs cannot be on the tables in his restaurant.

A New York resident filed a lawsuit against exercise equipment manufacturer Cybex, blaming the company for an injury she sustained from using the equipment incorrectly. How do you think this case was handled?

• The judge threw out the case, claiming that Cybex isn’t liable for its product being used improperly.
• The judge threw out the case, claiming that the woman should have read the instructions.
• The judge asked Cybex to increase the warnings label on the product and pay only for the injured woman’s medical bills.

A personal injury lawyer sued a business in the historic district of San Diego, alleging violations of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA). The business owner pointed out that since her business is in a historic district, she is prohibited by law from making changes such as adding parking places – even to comply with the ADA.

How do you think the case turned out?

• The judge dismissed the lawsuit, reasoning that the business couldn’t comply with ADA regulations due to its location in the historical district.
• The lawyer withdrew his lawsuit and apologized to the business owner.
• The judge threw out the lawsuit but required the city zoning commission to prepare a report on disability access in the historical district.

In California, a class action lawsuit was filed claiming that Coppertone sunscreen had exaggerated the benefits of its sunscreen products in marketing, despite the fact that its products met the latest FDA standards.

How do you think this lawsuit ended?

• Each person who had purchased Coppertone sunscreen in the past year received a free bottle.
• Personal injury lawyers withdrew the case after receiving a lifetime supply of aloe.
• The judge had Coppertone change its labeling moving forward.

An 11-year old Little League baseball player accidentally overthrew a ball and hit a spectator in the face. The injured woman then sued the boy for $500,000, claiming she was assaulted and battered, and has suffered ongoing pain and anguish.

What do you think happened?

• A judge threw out the suit, pointing out that 11-year-old baseball players often don’t have very good aim.
• The suit dragged on for months, but eventually the boy recouped all his attorney fees, as the judge found the claim frivolous.
• The judge dismissed the suit because the woman was engaging in a risky activity by sitting near where children were playing catch.

A personal injury lawyer sued a doughnut shop in California for noncompliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), alleging the business was inaccessible to wheelchair users. The only problem? The shop owner has been in a wheelchair her entire life and has never had trouble accessing any portion of her store.

What do you think happened?

• The lawyer realized his mistake and withdrew the lawsuit.
• The judge threw out the lawsuit because access obviously was not denied if the shop owner could enter and move around in the store.
• The store held a fundraiser to pay its legal bills by hosting a doughnuts and coffee event with local disabled advocacy groups.