Bonehead award one goes to some bus fare dodgers in the UK who,
thinking they were getting away with avoiding bus fares by using
substitute coins in the fare machine, were giving away a treasure
trove of outdated, foreign coins. For example, two gold
half-sovereigns worth about $45 each were found in the
collection. In total the rare coins tallied to about $7,500.

The bus company, Lothian Buses in Scotland, donated the coins to
charity.

Scottish Daily Record 2-Dec-01

By: Jerry Lerman

In 1994, a New Mexico jury awarded $ 2.9 million U.S. in damages to
81-year-old Stella Liebeck who suffered third-degree burns to her legs,
groin and buttocks after spilling a cup of McDonald's coffee on herself.

This case inspired an annual award - The "Stella" Award -for the most
frivolous lawsuit in the U.S. The ones listed below are clear candidates.

All these cases are verging on the outright ridiculous and yet (in the good
old USA) with the right attorney you could win anything! (see OJ trial)