Lawsuits filed by consumers against big business took off in the 1990s in the golden era of tort ligitation. In 1994, a 79-year-old woman won $2.86 million for spilling scalding hot McDonalds coffee on her lap.

Since then, lawsuits targeting big businesses have become common. Thankfully, most have at least some grounding in the law.

But some are frivolous and are quickly thrown out. And others that seem frivolous manage to result in damages being awarded.

Advocates often use such lawsuits to argue for tort reform. Sometimes it feels like they have a point.