For those of us who support legal reform, some cases are so silly, you can’t help but sit back and admire the chutzpah of those who file them, and shake your head sadly at the legal system that doesn’t immediately throw them out as a waste of precious court resources. Such is the case of Sacramento resident Rodney Harmon, who decided to sue Hilton Hotels at the end of July alleging that they tried to trick him into reading USA Today.

Seriously, Mr. Harmon? I have stayed at a few hotels in my time, and I can honestly say I do not remember the Hilton trying to trick me into reading the USA Today. In fact, I clearly remember that when I checked in there is a form I signed which states that if I do not want the newspaper they are delivering, they will remove the charge.

Mr. Harmon accused Hilton of deliberately hiding the newspaper charge by describing the fee in an "extremely small font which is difficult to notice or read" on the sleeve of the room card. But here is the best part: Mr. Harmon goes on to state, "the alleged consumer injury is substantial, causing millions of guests at defendant's hotels to be unwittingly parted with money for a newspaper they did not request and reasonably believed was provided to them without charge.”

Come on, Mr. Harmon. You consider that to be a substantial injury? A car accident causes substantial injury. Tearing your Achilles tendon is a substantial injury. But being charged for a newspaper that is delivered to your hotel room is not a substantial injury. This case is just one more obnoxious example of how insane the class action laws are in this country, and especially in this state. Mr. Harmon will probably get about $7,500 for being the lead member of a class. As a member of the class I will get a few cents for each of my stays at a Hilton over the past 10 years and Mr. Harmon's lawyer will get something like $2 million while laughing all the way to the bank.

Seriously, this nation's love affair with lawsuits has got to stop. Mr. Harmon should just buy a new pair of reading glasses and read the contract he signs before he registers at hotels. So to the Sheraton, Marriott and all the others, if Mr. Rodney Harmon checks in, make sure your lawyers are there to greet him.