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 to slap common sense warnings on their
product... "just in case."
Over the years, M-LAW has received hundreds of warning labels from people around
the world. M-LAW verifies the authenticity of each label and
selects the "Top 5" for each year.
Following is a list of some of the best labels from the first five
contests:
A warning on an electric router made for carpenters cautions: "This product
not intended for use as a dental drill."
A warning label found on a baby stroller cautions the user to "Remove child
before folding."
A prescription of sleeping pills says, "Warning: May cause drowsiness."
A sticker on a toilet at a public facility in Ann Arbor, Michigan actually
warns, "Recycled flush water unsafe for drinking."
A massage chair warns, "DO NOT use massage chair without clothing... and,
Never force any body part into the backrest area while the rollers are
moving."
A snowblower warns, "Do not use snowthrower on roof."
A dishwasher carries this warning: "Do not allow children to play in the
dishwasher."
A CD player carries this unusual warning: "Do not use the Ultradisc2000 as
a projectile in a catapult."
An "Aim-n-Flame" fireplace lighter cautions, "Do not use near fire, flame
or sparks."
A label on a hand-held massager advises consumers not to use "while
sleeping or unconscious."
A container of underarm deodorant says, "Caution: Do not spray in eyes."
A cartridge for a laser printer warns, "Do not eat toner."
A household iron warns users "Never iron clothes while they are being
worn."
A label with a hair dryer reads, "Never use hair dryer while sleeping."
A 13-inch wheel on a wheelbarrow warns, "Not intended for highway use."
A cardboard car sunshield that keeps sun off the dashboard warns, "Do not
drive with sunshield in place."
A bathroom heater says, "This product is not to be used in bathrooms."
A can of self-defense pepper spray warns users, "May irritate eyes."
A warning on a pair of shin guards manufactured for bicyclists says, "Shin
pads cannot protect any part of the body they do not cover."
A popular manufactured fireplace log warns, "Caution - Risk of Fire."
A box of birthday cake candles says, "DO NOT use soft wax as ear plugs or
for any other function that involves insertion into a body cavity.
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