In 1997, Michigan Lawsuit Abuse Watch (M-LAW) began a contest to
expose how frivolous lawsuits, and a concern about potential frivolous
lawsuits, have led to a new cultural phenomenon: the wacky warning
label.
You have probably heard about the lawsuit over a spilled cup of
coffee. However, there are many other silly lawsuits involving
products that have received far less attention. For example, did you
know a man received $50,000 when he sued a small company that makes
basketball nets because he claimed the company was responsible when he
caught his teeth in a net while dunking a ball? People who make
products hear about these outrageous lawsuits, and they often decide
Over the years, M-LAW has received hundreds of warning labels from
people around the world. M-LAW verifies the authenticity of each label
the top three winners. The past four years, listeners of the
award-winning Dick Purtan show on WOMC in Detroit have selected the
winners.
The first place winner receives $500, second place gets $250 and third
place receives $100.
Following is a list of some of the best labels from the first eight
contests:
A brass fishing lure with a three-pronged hook on the end warns:
A popular scooter for children warns: "This product moves when used."
A nine- by three-inch bag of air used as packing material cautions:
"Do not use this product as a toy, pillow, or flotation device."
A flushable toilet brush warns: "Do not use for personal hygiene."
The label on an electric hand blender promoted for use in "blending,
whipping, chopping and dicing," warns: "Never remove food or other
items from the blades while the product is operating."
A digital thermometer that can be used to take a person's temperature
several different ways warns: "Once used rectally, the thermometer
should not be used orally."
understand, or cannot read, all directions, cautions and warnings, do
and, Never force any body part into the backrest area while the
A warning on a pair of shin guards manufactured for bicyclists says:
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