'Danger: Avoid Death' Warning Wins Top Prize in M-LAW's Eleventh Annual Wacky Warning Label Contest

'Danger: Avoid Death' Warning Wins Top Prize in M-LAW's Eleventh Annual Wacky Warning Label Contest

NOVI, Mich., Dec. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- A label on a small tractor that warns, "Danger: Avoid Death," has been chosen as the nation's wackiest warning label in an annual contest sponsored by a consumer watchdog group.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071212/CLW028-a)
(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071212/CLW028-b)

The Wacky Warning Label Contest, now in its eleventh year, is conducted by Michigan Lawsuit Abuse Watch (M-LAW) to reveal how lawsuits, and fear of lawsuits, have driven the proliferation of common-sense warnings on U.S. products.

The winning labels were selected from a list of M-LAW's finalists by listeners of the Dick Purtan show on Detroit radio station, WOMC-FM. Kevin Soave of Farmington Hills, Michigan won the $500 grand prize for submitting the label to M-LAW. Soave also wins a copy of the best selling book, "Remove Child Before Folding, The 101 Stupidest, Silliest and Wackiest Warning Labels Ever," written by M-LAW president Bob Dorigo Jones.

The $250 second place award will be split by Carrianne, Jacob and Robby Turin of Greensburg, Pennsylvania for a label they found on an iron-on T-shirt transfer that warns: "Do not iron while wearing shirt." The $100 third place prize goes to Richard Goodnow of Lancaster, Massachusetts for a label on a baby-stroller featuring a small storage pouch that warns, "Do not put child in bag." Honorable mention goes to Cyndi LaMonde of Traverse City, Michigan for a warning label on a letter opener that says: "Caution: Safety goggles recommended."

Dorigo Jones explained that behind these silly labels is a serious public policy concern-America's out-of-whack system of civil justice.

"Predatory lawyers know they can file ridiculous lawsuits against innocent product makers and blackmail them into a cash settlement -- even in cases in which a user has ignored common sense," said Dorigo Jones. "The real issue is not the obvious warning labels, but the billions of dollars in litigation costs passed on to consumers -- a kind of a "lawsuit tax" we all pay. That is why M-LAW urges judges and policymakers to support civil justice reform."

To enter the Wacky Warning Label Contest or to see photos of all the labels, visit www.wackywarnings.com.

"Remove Child Before Folding, The 101 Stupidest, Silliest and Wackiest Warning Labels Ever," is published by Grand Central Publishing and can be found at all major booksellers.

Photo: NewsCom:

http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071212/CLW028-a

http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071212/CLW028-b

AP Archive:

http://photoarchive.ap.org

AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN5,6

Source: Michigan Lawsuit Abuse Watch

CONTACT: Robert B. Dorigo Jones of Michigan Lawsuit Abuse Watch,
+1-248-449-2990

Web site:

http://www.wackywarnings.com/

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