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Every year, the "Stella" awards are given to the most outlandish lawsuits of the year. The award is named for Stella Liebeck, the Albuquerque, N.M. woman who became an instant millionaire after spilling a cup of McDonald's coffee in her lap and winning a judgment against the fast-food chain.

Here are some definite candidates:

1. January 2000: Kathleen Robertson of Austin Texas was awarded $780,000 by a jury of her peers after breaking her ankle tripping over a toddler who was running amok inside a furniture store. The owners of the store were understandably surprised at the verdict, considering the misbehaving little boy was Ms. Robertson's son.

2. June 1998: 19-year-old Carl Truman of Los Angeles won $74,000 and medical expenses when his neighbor ran over his hand with a Honda Accord. Mr. Truman apparently didn't notice there was someone at the wheel of the car when he was trying to steal his neighbor's hubcaps.

3. October 1998: Terrence Dickson of Bristol Pennsylvania was leaving a house he had just finished robbing by way of the garage. He was not able to get the garage door to go up, because the automatic door opener was malfunctioning. He couldn't re-enter the house because the door connecting the house and garage locked when he pulled it shut. The family was on vacation. Mr. Dickson found himself locked in the garage for eight days. He subsisted on a case of Pepsi he found, and a large bag of dry dog food. Mr. Dickson sued the homeowner's insurance claiming the situation caused him undue mental anguish. The jury agreed to the tune of half a million dollars.

4. October 1999: Jerry Williams of Little Rock Arkansas was awarded $14,500 and medical expenses after being bitten on the buttocks by his next door neighbor's beagle. The beagle was on a chain in its owner's fenced-in yard, as was Mr. Williams. The award was less than sought because the jury felt the dog may have been provoked by Mr. Williams who, at the time, was shooting it repeatedly with a pellet gun.

5. December 1997: Kara Walton of Claymont, Delaware successfully sued the owner of a night club in a neighboring city when she fell from the bathroom window to the floor and knocked out her two front teeth. This occurred while Ms.Walton was trying to sneak through the window in the ladies room to avoid paying the $3.50 cover charge. She was awarded $12,000 and dental expenses.

We have seen so many abuses of our legal system over the years that we are tempted to take on the cynical attitude of Solomon when he wrote, "If you see the oppression of the poor, and the violent perversion of justice and righteousness in a province, do not marvel at the matter...." (Eccl. 5:8a).

The truth is, though, that justice usually does prevail in our courtrooms. Unfortunately, those cases are seldom regarded as being newsworthy. But even when we hear of injustices, we need to remember that all accounts are not settled in this lifetime. In a world that often seems to be very much out of control, we need to constantly be reminded that our God is in control, and justice will one day prevail.

"Many seek the ruler's favor, but justice for man comes from the LORD." (Prov. 29:26)