On Friday, the Angels filed their response to the suit, asking that it be thrown out. They accuse the plaintiff's attorney of conducting a "widely known and ongoing scheme to extort money from California businesses who dare to give a gift to individuals." The lawyer has filed 40 similar lawsuits.
This year, the Angels offered the tote bag to the first 25,000 customers, regardless of age or gender. A quick review of this year's promotions shows none offered to only women or men. There are still promotions for kids only.
The Pittsburgh Pirates' Class AA team has a unique response to the news, holding a "Salute to Frivolous Lawsuit Night":
The first 137 women will get lukewarm coffee (so they don't get burned), the first 137 kids will be given beach balls (and a warning not to swallow them) and the first 137 men will be given a free pink tote bag (a nod to a man who sued the Los Angeles Angels because he didn't get a tote bag given away for Mother's Day.)
One has to wonder whether the 138th guest of a particular gender or age will have a cause of action of their own.
Article comments
1 - Phillip Winn
Has California tackled the enormous problem* of different prices for "ladies shirts" at dry cleaners yet?
* Well, enormous in the sense that I constantly hear about it, at least.
2 - lori
Or different (lower) prices for men's hair cuts?
3 - Phillip Winn
I get the idea that neither men nor women should be discriminated against solely on the basis of their gender. If a woman brings an ordinary shirt into a dry cleaner, they should be charged the same rate as a man. The charge should be based on silk or whatever it is that dry cleaners claim makes "ladies shirts" generally more difficult.
Haircuts, though, that seems different. *Most* women have far more elaborate haircuts than *most* men. If a woman wants the sorta hackjob I used to pay for, then fine, pay your ten bucks and prepare for the clippers. If a man wants a perm, fork over the big bucks. But a "ladies cut" or a "mens cut" is a poor choice of terms for a very real and profound difference. A man can get a ladies cut and a woman can get a mens cut, if they just ask.
Me, I run some clippers over my head every now and again. Now *that's* cheap.
4 - Nancy
Did it occur to this gentleman that the bags given away for Mother's Day probably look feminine and one would more than likely make him look gay? Somehow, I doubt women wanted tote bags on Father's Day.
5 - DJRadiohead
Sometimes we get the society we deserve. Silliness. Well done, Justene.
6 - J.D.
I hate America... and this is why...