A while back, I read an article titled, “Indian Man to Sue Parents for Giving Birth to Him,” written by Geeta Panday, published by BBC News, Delhi, prompting consideration of certain law suits that seem to be brought to courts at high frequencies.

People have been suing people, groups, etc., for years. Some law suits, and reasons for them, might be valid, but some brought to courts, often settle(d) hugely in favor of large numbers of plaintiffs, may qualify for Cable TV’s, “Ridiculousness.”

My first recollection of (my opinion), “waste of time” suits, was someone buying coffee to-go, setting the coffee on their car seat, between their knees, when, something caused the coffee to spill on their legs. The person sued the restaurant because they weren’t warned the coffee was hot. Thinking back, I remember my parents warning me not to touch coffee they poured for themselves, because it was hot. It didn’t take long to learn that. I guess, unless the driver ordered Iced Coffee, they might not have known the coffee would be hot. No, retract that statement, it even sounds ridiculous to me. The plaintiff, later, admitted he/she knew the coffee was hot, just not that hot.

Researching coffee brewing, I discovered:

“The brewing temperature of the water used is very important. It should be between 195 degrees F (91 C) and 205 degrees F (96 C). The closer to 205 F (96 C) the better. Boiling water (212 degrees F – 100 degrees C) should never be used, as it will burn the coffee.” (From How to Brew “The Perfect Cup” of Coffee/Black Bear Coffee).

No, the coffee in this case didn’t have warnings seen now on to-go coffee cups. No, the plaintiff wasn’t warned the coffee was hot, but doesn’t some responsibility fall on consumers? I mean, if you’re hiking and approach a cliff, is it necessary to hang a sign reading, “Caution, you could fall??” (I can understand a sign warning of a cliff ahead, but is it necessary to tell people they might fall too?)

I understand required warnings on tobacco, cautioning consumers of their dangers. Up until the time of that requirement, people didn’t know possible dangers from tobacco. I mean, there were television commercial advertising more doctors smoked a certain brand of cigarettes. The same goes for alcohol. Warnings/precautions are now on alcoholic beverage containers.

Coffee’s, though, in a different light (opinion). Back when, when people made coffee, they usually percolated or boiled (before knowing it would burn the coffee) water to make it. If water boiled, it would be 212*F. Another words, hot (and strong)!

One problem may be, some don’t make their own coffee anymore. Judging by lines, at Starbucks, Tim Hortons, Dunkin’ Donuts, etc., people spend more to have coffee made for them, thus maybe not realizing it could be hot. (sarcasm)

This case’s plaintiff admitted they weren’t greedy, they just wanted other coffee buyers to know it was hot. Truth is, though, the settlement was pretty hefty regardless of intent. Will we now see ice cream makers issue warnings like, “Caution, may cause freezer burn to lips or tongues?” No one (except our parents when we were young) needs to warn us that crossing a street could cause being hit by a car. Yes, there are traffic/crossing signs posted, but adults shouldn’t need to be told to look both ways, not walk in front of oncoming vehicles, or walk against traffic signals. Point is, there shouldn’t be possibilities for law suits, and/or settlements, for failure to use common sense.

Again, there’s legitimate reasons for some law suits. People need protection from swindlers, scammers, or being negligently hurt, but courts are being flooded with ridiculous lawsuits, many based on simple common sense, or lack of it.

Regarding the man suing his parents for not getting his permission to give birth to him, ironically, both his parents are lawyers. Amazingly, they bore no grudge, nor expressed any bitterness toward him. One positive of that is they wouldn’t have to pay attorney fees to plead their side of the suit.

We might wonder how/if this might increase, even more, the already high number of nonsensical law suits, just as we wonder if the ’90s “Coffee Case” opened the door to many which have followed. Bottom line, it’s time we slam that door shut. Maybe we need to lessen the number of Law Firm commercials on television. Maybe, then, our children/grandchildren can, (will?), grow up learning you do what needs to be done, when/if, situations warrant, but you don’t do it just for easy money.

Maybe, such case decisions should come down to more common sense, than more dollars and cents.