An Inclusive Litany

10/20/97

A Pennsylvania man decided to place his ladder on top of a pile of frozen horse manure to extend its reach while working on his barn. When the manure thawed, the ladder slipped, the man fell, sued the ladder manufacturer, and a jury awarded him $330,000.

In North Dakota, a woman who was injured when her smoke detector failed to sound sued the manufacturer of the alarm, which unfortunately requires batteries in order to function.