America's Courts Stuffed with Lawsuit “Turkeys”

-CALA says lawsuits gobble up court time and taxpayer dollars-

San Jose -- Just in time for Thanksgiving, Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA) is presenting some of America’s greatest lawsuit “turkeys.”

“Thanksgiving isn’t the only time for turkeys," commented CALA Executive Director Don Wolfe. "Lawsuit turkeys like these gobble up taxpayer dollars and fatten up lawyers’ wallets.”

Yo’ Rocky, Where’s My Money? -- A New Jersey man is filing suit against Sylvester Stallone is seeking $15 million in damages for illegally using his name to promote the “Rocky” films and other merchandise. Chuck Wepner was the boxer and inspiration for the 1976 film, “Rocky.” Wepner waited almost 28 years before filing the suit. (Associated Press, November 7, 2003)

Hairy Lawsuit -- A St. Louis woman sued her local hairstylist for emotional distress following a hair-straightening job that allegedly caused her hair to fall out. A St. Louis County jury awarded the woman $6,000. (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 14, 2003)

If At First You Don’t Succeed, Sue -- A high school senior from Moorestown, N.J. sued her school for $2.7 million because they wanted her to share the title of valedictorian with two other students. The school ultimately caved and allowed the student to be the sole valedictorian, and the suit was dropped. (Los Angeles Times, May 7, 2003)

Take This Lawsuit to the Hoop -- A Union City, Calif., parent sued the New Haven Unified School District for $1.5 million after his 15-year-old son was demoted from the varsity to the junior varsity basketball team. (Washington Post, June 6, 2003)

"Frivolous lawsuits are one American tradition we can do without. When our courts are stuffed with frivolous lawsuits, real; victims with real injuries lose their right to swift justice," Wolfe said.

CALA is a nonprofit, grassroots organization dedicated to educating consumers on the human and financial costs incurred when the legal system is abused for greed, harassment or publicity. More than 6000 Bay Area residents are CALA supporters.