Lawsuits and L.L. Bean: This Week in Hot Chocolate and Current Events

Happy March! 

One of the habits of great citizens is keeping up with what’s going on in the world. Hot Chocolate and Current Events is our weekly effort to help your homeschool family do just that.

Have you heard about the new L.L. Bean return policy? It has been in the news for the past week, and we've been hearing a good deal about it. 

Read this article from the Chicago Tribune, then answer the following questions. 

• Do you carry a backpack? What do you look for in a backpack?
• Do you expect backpacks to last for a lifetime?
• Do you think L.L. Bean customers made purchases based on Bean's guarantee that their backpacks would last a lifetime?
• Why do you think the customer filed the lawsuit?
• A class action lawsuit is one where a group of people, who have something in common, get together and sue. Do you think this lawsuit should proceed as a class action?
• Do you think that the court should award damages (money) to the parties filing the lawsuit? How much?
• Do you think it was wise for L.L. Bean to offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee?
• Why do you think customers returned their decades-old gear and merchandise they bought from thrift stores?
• What role do you think social media played in all of this? 

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