Frivolous law suit?

[Flatbutt1]

At least that old McDonald's suit had hot coffee as a causal link, not a good one but at least linkable. This one however

LOS ANGELES, California (Reuters) -- A Texas woman has sued ABC's popular reality show "Extreme Makeover" for more than $1 million claiming among other things that an abrupt cancellation of her appearance on the program led to her sister's death.

Deleese Williams of Conroe, Texas, claims she came to Los Angeles to be a contestant on the show after undergoing a series of medical exams to determine if her crooked teeth and droopy eyes could be fixed and her small breasts enhanced, according the suit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.

The suit starts with the blunt description: "Deleese Williams is considered ugly" and says one doctor promised her "a Hollywood smile like Cindy Crawford."

To prepare for the show, the producers sent a crew to Texas in January 2004 to interview Williams and her family.

The suit claims the "Extreme Makeover" crew manipulated Williams' sister, Kellie, into making cruel statements about Williams' looks.

The night before Williams was to begin her makeover, the show's producers told her it would take too long for work on her jaw to heal. They canceled her appearance and sent Williams home where Kellie, distraught over what she had said about her sister, eventually killed herself, according to the suit.

"Sometimes Deleese blames herself for Kellie's death," the suit said.

An ABC spokeswoman was not immediately available to comment.

[legion]

Where there's $$$, there's lawyers trying to get it...

[RickM]

I'm usually the first to criticize frivilous lawsuits. But these "reality" shows are completely out of hand. I have zero doubt that the producers and crew manipulated these people "...into making cruel statements about Williams' looks." You see this alot with the matchmaking type shows.

[skipdup]

Wasn't there a LOT more to the story with the McD's coffee?

[dhoward]

I hate these shows. They are specifically written to make people feel bad about themselves. Then, in the blink of a unwrinkled eye, they are made to be 'whole' again.
Preadtory television.
Speaking of predators, think I'll turn on Discovery.....

[rsrfan]

there WAS a lot more to the McDonalds story. Seems Mcdonalds executives were aware of the potential for third degree burns from coffee served in excess of the recommended temperature. However, McDonalds HQ made the decision that the risk of those burns was acceptable in order that coffee purhased at the drive through still be hot after the morning commute. The excessive award was based not upon actual damages for the burns recieved, but on punitive damages to punish McDonalds for the Pinto-type cost benefit analysis.

[RickM]

Some good debate on the McDs coffee: Lawsuits Gone Wild: The cost of doing business

[Moses]

Originally posted by RickM
I'm usually the first to criticize frivilous lawsuits. But these "reality" shows are completely out of hand. I have zero doubt that the producers and crew manipulated these people "...into making cruel statements about Williams' looks." You see this alot with the matchmaking type shows.

So?...

[dhoward]

People are sheep.

[RickM]

Originally posted by Moses
So?...

I detest the way they pit people against each other for ratings.

Then again people are attention whores who'll do anything to get onto TV.

[Moses]

Originally posted by RickM
I detest the way they pit people against each other for ratings.

Then again people are attention whores who'll do anything to get onto TV.

So... you sue them?

[dhoward]

I say you wait for them after dark and kick their ass.

[skipdup]

Originally posted by rsrfan
there WAS a lot more to the McDonalds story. Seems Mcdonalds executives were aware of the potential for third degree burns from coffee served in excess of the recommended temperature. However, McDonalds HQ made the decision that the risk of those burns was acceptable in order that coffee purhased at the drive through still be hot after the morning commute. The excessive award was based not upon actual damages for the burns recieved, but on punitive damages to punish McDonalds for the Pinto-type cost benefit analysis.

Thanks. My wife studied the case in law school, and told me about it. I just could remember the details.

I thought there was something about replacing the thermostats too??? I believe they showed the bean counters had done an analysis and decided it was cheaper to pay a few settlements than it would be to replace every single (expensive) coffee machine or retrofit with new thermometer. Hence the high punitive judgment. But, I could be wrong.

[dd74]

Reality shows lost me with "Bum Fights."

[Hugh R]

Networks buy those reality shows as finished products, to provide some degree of separation between them and the production company. That should tell you alot.

[RickM]

Originally posted by Moses
So... you sue them?

In some cases, perhaps, I beleive it could be warranted. They prey on and exploit the naivetee of the people who volunteer for these shows. If someone is harmed as a result of the producers pushing the limits...well, they should be held accountable to some degree.

[Moses]

Originally posted by RickM
In some cases, perhaps, I beleive it could be warranted. They prey on and exploit the naivetee of the people who volunteer for these shows. If someone is harmed as a result of the producers pushing the limits...well, they should be held accountable to some degree.

Can we agree that the woman who killed herself was a little unbalanced?

Let's suppose a similarly disturbed individual is pushed over the edge when her latte is served late, cold and tasting like hazelnut (she hates hazelnut), by a sullen barista who messed up the latte on purpose because she was in a foul mood due to a poorly executed tattoo. After her anguished suicide, should her family sue Starbucks?

[RickM]

No doubt that the majority of people who kill themselves are disturbed. Even if pushed to the edge temporarily.
Should the producers do a bit more due dillegence (sp) on who they recruit?

[skipdup]

Originally posted by RickM
Even if pushed to the edge temporarily.
Should the producers do a bit more due dillegence (sp) on who they recruit?

They may just start doing that now. These guys must hate bad press.

[RickM]

IMO, producing shows on sensitive subjects, plastic surgery and womens self esteem/self image being one, carry a higher level of liability.
I recall an incident were a guy killed someone because he was exposed or alleged to be homosexual on a show. Jenny Jones?