Gordaen’s Blog

When I was younger, friends would often ask each other, “What would you do for a million dollars?” Usually the suggestions were gross, disturbing, or at least required some thought (e.g., Would you be willing to lose a leg?). The question was never “Would you spill hot coffee on yourself for millions?” because everyone would have said yes.

US courts routinely offer millions in compensation to citizens who do stupid things, but Germany has taken the opposite approach. According to the news story, a man was having brain surgery and became the unfortunate victim of a faulty fridge. The top of his skull “spoiled” and had to be replaced. Courts awarded him $4,100. If he had been in the US, they would have added another three zeros on there.

“You lost part of your skull? That’s nothing! *I* had to deal with hot coffee!”