-After a man threatened to sue McDonald's for $5 million, the former research scientist was arrested for extortion. The scientist claimed he ate part of a fried rat tail he found in a bag of Happy Meal french fries, but a grand jury said the tail came from one of his own laboratory rats.

-A prisoner is suing the State of New York because he claims secondhand smoke from other prisoners is ruining his health, even though he smokes himself.

-A convicted wants $1,000 because the State of New York made him eat "vegetable diet loaf" as a punishment for violating prison rules.

-An Israel woman is suing a TV weatherman because she said his prediction of sunny skies caused her to go out in the rain and catch the flu.

-Two Boston women unsuccessfully sued for reinstatement after they were fired for refusing to work the night of December 25. They claimed their devout Catholic beliefs prevented them from working on Christmas. The two women were employed as betting clerks at a local racetrack.