Laptop 54 million dollar law suite

[terryl965]

Here is the Link to the story. I just cannot believe this country anymore.

 

[MBuzzy]

Ok, I hate to be on the dark side here, because normally I'd agree with you 100% that this is ridiculous and the country is going to pot because of the crazy lawsuits we think up. BUT, I can kind of see her point on this one.

Best Buy is a major corporation, mistreating a customer. I think about it this way....if they lost my computer, not only losing my property, but compromising my security...what could I do about it? Then they offer me a fraction of what the time, problems, and property was worth...what could I do about it? Keep sending letters and complaining over the course of months? MOST corporations wouldn't be as "gracious" as they were to up their replacement offer. Most would just ignore you off the bat. Offer you the $900 and walk. Why? Because there is NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT - in their opinion. You're not worth the effort or money to them.

Now....if you bring a $54 million lawsuit AND you have standing, they have to pay attention. They can't ignore that. She stated flat out that she didn't want the $54 mil and that she didn't expect to get it, but that it was the principle. If she would have brought suit for less, they could have crushed it with an army of lawyers for pennies and not paid her a dime (once the court has ruled against you, you're done, plus her legal fees couldn't keep up). All she's trying to do is get this to be heard by a big enough court to make a difference. And notice, as soon as she brought suit, they offered her over $4,000....so it did hit them.

Ok, with that said....I am AGAINST suing for every little thing. I that people can sue others for their own stupidity. But, the legal process of suing has a purpose and though this case is WAY over inflated, I think that this is the general purpose of the process. Look at how many "[some guy's name] v. the United States" lawsuits there are. Or private citizens suing large entities....I feel that's why the system exists, to give those citizens a fair shot to be heard in court for personal injury.

 

[exile]

Ok, I hate to be on the dark side here, because normally I'd agree with you 100% that this is ridiculous and the country is going to pot because of the crazy lawsuits we think up. BUT, I can kind of see her point on this one.

Best Buy is a major corporation, mistreating a customer. I think about it this way....if they lost my computer, not only losing my property, but compromising my security...what could I do about it? Then they offer me a fraction of what the time, problems, and property was worth...what could I do about it? Keep sending letters and complaining over the course of months? MOST corporations wouldn't be as "gracious" as they were to up their replacement offer. Most would just ignore you off the bat. Offer you the $900 and walk. Why? Because there is NOTHING YOU CAN DO ABOUT IT - in their opinion. You're not worth the effort or money to them.

Now....if you bring a $54 million lawsuit AND you have standing, they have to pay attention. They can't ignore that. She stated flat out that she didn't want the $54 mil and that she didn't expect to get it, but that it was the principle. If she would have brought suit for less, they could have crushed it with an army of lawyers for pennies and not paid her a dime (once the court has ruled against you, you're done, plus her legal fees couldn't keep up). All she's trying to do is get this to be heard by a big enough court to make a difference. And notice, as soon as she brought suit, they offered her over $4,000....so it did hit them.

Ok, with that said....I am AGAINST suing for every little thing. I that people can sue others for their own stupidity. But, the legal process of suing has a purpose and though this case is WAY over inflated, I think that this is the general purpose of the process. Look at how many "[some guy's name] v. the United States" lawsuits there are. Or private citizens suing large entities....I feel that's why the system exists, to give those citizens a fair shot to be heard in court for personal injury.

I agree with Craig. The woman isn't after money; it's just that, like Argus Filch in The Chamber of Secrets after his cat has been 'petrified', she wants to see some punishment. Best Buy deserves a full-power open hip side kick in the *** for stonewalling her, and for failing to honor their legal obligations by notifying her of the identity theft issue.

My own experiences with Best Buy—now in the long distant past—weren't on quite this scale, but I can well understand both how normal this is for them and how white-hot-frustrated she must have been. She tried to get normal reparation and they basically pissed on her; my feeling is, the bad publicity they earn by this behavior—which is what I think she really want to hit them with—is exactly, completely, totally what they asked for and deserve.

 

[fireman00]

She seems to have only taken the lawsuit road when BestBuy blew her off. I can see where she's coming from after my dad had a similar experience with Acer.... took him almost 2 months to get the power plug fixed.

 

[terryl965]

I understand Craig and Exile but 54 million she could have just made it 10 million for the principle, I hate Best Buy and refuse to shop there but it is action like this on both parts that makes this country look stupid in my eyes. Sorry it is just how I feel. Remember I agree with her in principle.

 

[MBuzzy]

I understand Craig and Exile but 54 million she could have just made it 10 million for the principle, I hate Best Buy and refuse to shop there but it is action like this on both parts that makes this country look stupid in my eyes. Sorry it is just how I feel. Remember I agree with her in principle.

That is a good point, it is ridicululously overinflated, but I guess if you're gonna go for it, do it right! I mean, she could have done $10,000 and not be taken seriously or $40 Billion and not be taken seriously.

 

[terryl965]

Exactly, you know I just remember that the lady at the drive though at Jack N the box was rude and messed up my order and wasted my time going back to get it fix, I will sue for endangerment is I'm allorgect to Tomatoes. I can probaly get 60-100 million for my worries and the family thinking I was going to die if I ate it.

 

[Ping898]

see...I am ok with what she is doing, and fine with the number...don't know where she came up with it, if it was random or not, but she wasn't getting anywhere with best buy, they were screwing her over, so why not try and return the favor....unlike the 54 million dry cleaners suit, the loss of her laptop could have potentially devastating effect on her life and ability to work if her identity is stolen and best buy kept jerking her around when she tried to get restitution....she's doing what she needs to do to get their attention when no other means worked....beats going into the local best buy and shooting people....

 

[newGuy12]

beats going into the local best buy and shooting people....

Hear, hear!

 

[Doc_Jude]

Best Buy deserves a full-power open hip side kick in the *** for stonewalling her, and for failing to honor their legal obligations by notifying her of the identity theft issue.

I think they should get a full power back kick to the liver. That's just me...

 

[Andrew Green]

Mistakes made:
1) bought a computer from Best Buy
2) Bought the extended warranty
3) Didn't back up her personal data, which they specifically tell you to do as they may whipe the hard drive clean.

Best Buy screwed up, but $900 would cover replacement costs on a laptop that cost $1100 over a year ago. The only odd thing is requireing it to be a gift card, which from a business standpoint makes sense, but if she'd asked for cash instead I'd expect them to be provide it.

But really, if you take a computer to a shop to get repaired by some guys getting paid $9 / hour trained to format and reinstall if that is the most time effective solution, don't leave important information on it, or get someone to back it up first.