​3 Crazy Holiday Lawsuits From The Past Decade (2024)

The Holiday season is a special time of year. Family and friends gather to celebrate a number of special holidays. Unfortunately, the season also seems to be the start of many lawsuits. Some of those cases are clearly serious in nature; others...not so much. Here are three of the craziest holiday lawsuits from the past 10 years.

Are Turkey Cooking Instructions Copyrightable?

Back in 2010, Greenberg Smoked Turkeys, Inc. filed suit against Goode-Cook, Inc. Both were purveyors of smoked turkeys. The complaint alleged that Goode-Cook stole instructions developed by Greenberg for cooking a smoked turkey. The instructions involved three short paragraphs filled with fairly standard instructions on how to handle and cook a turkey. Greenberg claimed that the particular wording they used fell under copyright laws, even though they are similar to every other set of instructions for handling and cooking smoked turkey.

The outcome of the lawsuit is unknown.

Do Popular Holiday Tunes Constitute Cruel And Unusual Punishment?

Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the noted Arizona lawman, has faced multiple lawsuits from inmates incarcerated in the Maricopa County Jail. At least six of those lawsuits (last known filed in December 2009) were over holiday tunes.

Inmates brought suit against Arpaio alleging that playing holiday music 12 hours a day, from Thanksgiving through New Years, is a violation of religious and civil rights as well as being cruel and unusual punishment. Tunes included favorites such as "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer," "Ramadan" and "Feliz Navidad."

In every case brought, the federal courts have found that this musical onslaught was not a violation of anyone's rights nor does it constitute cruel and unusual punishment.

Is There Any Relationship Between An Aussie Song And An Alabama Christmas Hit?

One of the more popular holiday tunes heard each year is the Alabama song, "Christmas in Dixie." (That is the country group Alabama, not the state.) An Aussie singer, Allan Caswell, sued Sony ATV in 2009, alleging "Christmas in Dixie" used the same melody as his 1979 Australian hit song "On the Inside." He did not allege the melody was stolen from him. He just wanted royalties from the Christmas tune dating back to its 1982 debut.

Caswell fought long and hard to no avail. He lost the suit in Australian court in 2014. The courts found that the melodies in both songs used common harmonic patterns found in songs around the musical world.

Let's face it. The holiday season can be a pleasant time with family and friends. Or it can be a nightmare when someone decides to sue. If you need legal representation for a holiday lawsuit, contact the experts at Stockard, Johnston, Brown, Netardus & Doyle, P.C..

​3 Crazy Holiday Lawsuits From The Past Decade (2024)

FAQs

What was the stupidest lawsuit ever? ›

Subway Sandwich Lawsuit

A man found a 7 inch serrated plastic knife baked into his subway sandwich and decided to sue the company for damages. He filed a $1 million lawsuit, he also said he contracted food poisoning from the sandwich, leading to severe stomach aches.

What is the Greenberg smoked turkey lawsuit? ›

The complaint alleged that Goode-Cook stole instructions developed by Greenberg for cooking a smoked turkey. The instructions involved three short paragraphs filled with fairly standard instructions on how to handle and cook a turkey.

What is an example of a frivolous case? ›

We all know the most famous frivolous lawsuit story. Stella Liebeck sued McDonald's back in 1992 when she spilled hot coffee on herself. "But coffee is meant to be hot" we all cry. Dig a little deeper into the case however and it starts to look less frivolous.

What is the largest sue in history? ›

1. Tobacco master settlement agreement for **$206 billion** [The Largest Ever] In 1998, Philip Morris, RJ Reynolds, and two other tobacco companies agreed to a $206 billion settlement, at a minimum, covering medical costs for smoking-related illnesses.

What are ridiculous lawsuits called? ›

A frivolous claim, often called a bad faith claim, refers to a lawsuit, motion or appeal that is intended to harass, delay or embarrass the opposition. A claim is frivolous when the claim lacks any arguable basis either in law or in fact Neitze v. Williams, 490 U.S. 319, 325 (1989).

Are Butterball smoked turkeys really smoked? ›

Butterball Smoked Whole Turkeys are fully cooked and ready to eat. They can be used in recipes calling for cooked turkey without prior heating. The pink color of the meat comes from smoking and curing and is not a sign of undercooked meat.

Why does turkey turn pink when smoked? ›

Scientists have found that pinkness occurs when gases in the atmosphere of a heated gas or electric oven react chemically with hemoglobin in the meat tissues to give poultry a pink tinge. They are the same substances that give red color to smoked hams and other cured meats.

Who makes Costco smoked turkey? ›

Whole Smoked Turkey

Our smoking process gives your turkey the most natural flavor and texture you've ever tasted in a fully cooked turkey. It's plump and juicy and ready to be the centerpiece of your family's special dinner! Our Whole Smoked Turkey by Stevison Meat Co is sold exclusively at Costco.

What do you call someone who sues a lot? ›

What does litigious mean? Litigious is an adjective that's used to describe a person or organization that is prone to suing other people or companies. It typically implies that such lawsuits are frivolous or excessive. The related verb litigate means to engage in a legal proceeding, such as a lawsuit.

Can you counter sue someone for what you think is a frivolous lawsuit? ›

Usually, the answer is no.

Though certain sanctions may be available for frivolous suits, a counter claim must always be based on a legitimate claim that can be asserted against the Plaintiff.

Can I counter sue for wasting my time? ›

Indeed, you can sue for wrongful lawsuits, but it's crucial to understand that not all unsuccessful lawsuits qualify as wrongful litigation. To prevail in a countersuit for wasting time, you must demonstrate that the plaintiff knew or should have known that their claims lacked legal merit or were pursued in bad faith.

What was the longest lawsuit ever? ›

Myra Clark Gaines' 19th century fight over an enormous inheritance is still the longest-running civil lawsuit in American history, taking over 60 years to finally find some kind of resolution. The United States Supreme Court called her case "the most remarkable in the records."

What company got sued for the most money? ›

The most expensive lawsuit settlements in history
  • 1998 – The Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement – $206 Billion. ...
  • 2010 – Deepwater Horizon BP Oil Spill – $20 Billion. ...
  • 2012 – Smartphone Wars – $40 Billion. ...
  • 1999 – Rupert Murdoch vs Anna Torv – $1.7 Billion. ...
  • 2010 – Tiger Woods vs Elin Nordegren – $750 Million.

What is the lost pants cause mental suffering lawsuit? ›

Chung, also known as the "$54 million pants" case, is a 2007 civil case decided in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia in which Roy Pearson, then an administrative law judge, sued his local dry cleaning establishment for $54 million in damages after the dry cleaners allegedly lost his pants.

What is the largest award lawsuit? ›

The Largest Settlements and Verdicts in U.S.
  • $206 Billion Tobacco Industry Master Settlement Agreement. ...
  • $150 Billion Burn Victim Case in Texas. ...
  • $8 Billion Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc in Pennsylvania. ...
  • $4.9 Billion General Motors Case. ...
  • $4.69 Billion Johnson & Johnson Talc Ovarian Cancer Case in Missouri.
Jan 24, 2024

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