In 1997, Michigan Lawsuit Abuse Watch (M-LAW) began a contest to expose how frivolous lawsuits, and a concern about potential frivolous lawsuits, have led to a new cultural phenomenon: the wacky warning label.

You have probably heard about the lawsuit over a spilled cup of coffee. However, there are many other silly lawsuits involving products that have received far less attention. For example, did you know a man received $50,000 when he sued a small company that makes basketball nets because he claimed the company was responsible when he caught his teeth in a net while dunking a ball? People who make products hear about these outrageous lawsuits, and they often decide to slap common sense warnings on their product... "just in case."

Over the years, M-LAW has received hundreds of warning labels from people around the world. M-LAW verifies the authenticity of each label and selects the "Top 5" for each year.

Following is a list of some of the best labels from the first five contests:

A warning on an electric router made for carpenters cautions: "This product not intended for use as a dental drill."

A warning label found on a baby stroller cautions the user to "Remove child before folding"

A prescription of sleeping pills says, "Warning: May cause drowsiness

A sticker on a toilet at a public facility in Ann Arbor, Michigan actually warns: "Recycled flush water unsafe for drinking."

A massage chair warns: "DO NOT use massage chair without clothing... and, Never force any body part into the backrest area while the rollers are moving."

A snowblower warns: "Do not use snowthrower on roof.²"

A dishwasher carries this warning: "Do not allow children to play in the dishwasher."

A CD player carries this unusual warning: "Do not use the Ultradisc2000 as a projectile in a catapult."

An "Aim-n-Flame" fireplace lighter cautions, "Do not use near fire, flame or sparks"

A label on a hand-held massager advises consumers not to use "while sleeping or unconscious"

A container of underarm deodorant says, "Caution: Do not spray in eyes"

A cartridge for a laser printer warns, "Do not eat toner"

A household iron warns users: "Never iron clothes while they are being worn"

A label with a hair dryer reads, "Never use hair dryer while sleeping"

A 13-inch wheel on a wheelbarrow warns: "Not intended for highway use"

A cardboard car sunshield that keeps sun off the dashboard warns, "Do not drive with sunshield in place"

A Bathroom Heater says: "This product is not to be used in bathrooms"

A can of self-defense pepper spray warns users: "May irritate eyes"

A warning on a pair of shin guards manufactured for bicyclists says: "Shin pads cannot protect any part of the body they do not cover."

A popular manufactured fireplace log warns: "Caution - Risk of Fire"

A box of birthday cake candles says: "DO NOT use soft wax as ear plugs or for any other function that involves insertion into a body cavity.