Are people easily sued in America?

one a bachelor party in Vegas 2 of my buddies got stuck in an elevator for a few hours, so the hotel refunded the cost of the rooms and payed for everything that was charged to the room (drinks and such)...

One of my other buddies was telling them how they could of gotten soooooo much more if they played the claustrophobic card on them for being stuck in the elevator but I guess they were happy with a free hotel and drinks