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CALA TIMES
Lawsuit of the Mo.
| Outrageous But True Examples of |
| Lawsuit Abuse That Happen Every Day |
Chickens Stronger Than Dinosaurs?
The creators and owners of the rights to the popular purple children’s character Barney the Dinosaur, filed a trademark-infringement suit against the Famous San Diego Chicken, otherwise known as Ted Giannoulas, whose sports-stadium mascot act involves beating up a purple Barney-like dinosaur. (Associated Press, 11/6/1997)
According to U.S. District Court, Fort Worth, Texas Division, The U.S. District Judge John McBryde threw out the suit July 29, 1998. He said the offending routine—in which the Chicken pummels a Barney look-alike—was clearly parody and would not cause trademark confusion.
Pottygate
A man at a Billy Joel concert allegedly became emotionally distressed when he discovered women were using the men’s bathroom. He sued the city of San Diego, as well as the beer vendor, claiming they contributed to his discomfort. (The Recorder, 12/14/1999)
Careful, That Pop-Tart is Smokin’ Hot
A couple in New Jersey is suing the Kellogg Co. as well as appliance maker, Black & Decker Corp., alleging that a cherry Pop-Tart they put in their toaster blew up and burned down their house. (Reuters, 7/20/2001)
That’s a Wacky-Do
A production manager who once toured with Jefferson Airplane and the Eagles has sued a dotcom, its advertising firm, and photo firm over an ad prominently displaying an old photo of him and implicitly poking fun at the unruly 1970s-vintage hairstyle he then wore. (San Francisco Chronicle, 5/29/2001)
They Let Me Get Drunk!
A New Hampshire became intoxicated at a party and decided to go four-wheeling in a sand pit, killing a friend. A week later he filed suit against the couple who threw the party for letting him get drunk and the pit owner for failing to inform him of the dangers of drunk four-wheeling. (Associated Press, 8/16/2001)
