A-hole Judge sues cleaner for $65M over pants

[falco]

Remember this guy.......?

Judge Now Only Wants $54 Million From Dry Cleaners for Lost Pants

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Washington (AP)

A judge who was seeking $67 million from a dry cleaners that lost his pants has loosened the belt on his lawsuit. Now, he's asking for only $54 million, according to a May 30 court filing in D.C. Superior Court.

Roy L. Pearson, a District of Columbia administrative law judge, first sued Custom Cleaners over a pair of pants that went missing two years ago. He was seeking about $65 million under the D.C. consumer protection act and almost $2 million in common law claims.

He is now focusing his claims on signs in the shop that have since been removed. The suit alleges that Jin Nam Chung, Soo Chung and Ki Chung committed fraud and misled consumers with signs that claimed "Satisfaction Guaranteed" and "Same Day Service."

But Chris Manning, the Chungs' attorney, says that can be considered fraud only if the signs misled a "reasonable" person. No reasonable person, he says, would interpret them to be an unconditional promise of satisfaction.

Pearson, who is representing himself, said in an e-mail that the focus of the case, from the start, was based on the "false, misleading and fraudulent advertisements displayed by the Chungs."
.................................................. .......................

As many legitimate consumer fraud cases as there are, it is the ridiculous ones like this case that hurts everyone. It's a minor miracle this corrupt scambag judge doesn't get struck by lightning.

I know who his heros are: Marion Barry, Impeached federal judge Alcee Hastings and indicted Congressman William Jefferson ($90,000 in the freezer). It is disgusting when public officials disregard every oath they have ever taken and try to scam the system.

Man, oh man, what's it say about D.C. if a piece of human excrement like this guy is entrusted to serve the public?

No, i think his heroes are Scooter libby, Tom Delay, Bob Ney, John Doolittle, Conrad Burns, David Safavian, Duke Cunningham,...should I go on.

Please stop with your incessant bashing of liberals/dems. It is tiresome, pedantic and frankly stupid.

I find the bashing of dems and liberals amusing, heartwarming, and entirely called for.

Just like baseball, mom and apple pie, eh...

[Tyrone Bigguns]

Remember this guy.......?

Judge Now Only Wants $54 Million From Dry Cleaners for Lost Pants

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Washington (AP)

A judge who was seeking $67 million from a dry cleaners that lost his pants has loosened the belt on his lawsuit. Now, he's asking for only $54 million, according to a May 30 court filing in D.C. Superior Court.

Roy L. Pearson, a District of Columbia administrative law judge, first sued Custom Cleaners over a pair of pants that went missing two years ago. He was seeking about $65 million under the D.C. consumer protection act and almost $2 million in common law claims.

He is now focusing his claims on signs in the shop that have since been removed. The suit alleges that Jin Nam Chung, Soo Chung and Ki Chung committed fraud and misled consumers with signs that claimed "Satisfaction Guaranteed" and "Same Day Service."

But Chris Manning, the Chungs' attorney, says that can be considered fraud only if the signs misled a "reasonable" person. No reasonable person, he says, would interpret them to be an unconditional promise of satisfaction.

Pearson, who is representing himself, said in an e-mail that the focus of the case, from the start, was based on the "false, misleading and fraudulent advertisements displayed by the Chungs."
.................................................. .......................

As many legitimate consumer fraud cases as there are, it is the ridiculous ones like this case that hurts everyone. It's a minor miracle this corrupt scambag judge doesn't get struck by lightning.

I know who his heros are: Marion Barry, Impeached federal judge Alcee Hastings and indicted Congressman William Jefferson ($90,000 in the freezer). It is disgusting when public officials disregard every oath they have ever taken and try to scam the system.

Man, oh man, what's it say about D.C. if a piece of human excrement like this guy is entrusted to serve the public?

No, i think his heroes are Scooter libby, Tom Delay, Bob Ney, John Doolittle, Conrad Burns, David Safavian, Duke Cunningham,...should I go on.

Please stop with your incessant bashing of liberals/dems. It is tiresome, pedantic and frankly stupid.

I find the bashing of dems and liberals amusing, heartwarming, and entirely called for.

Ok. Then explain how his hero would be those dems...and not the Repubs listed?

Furthermore explain why one eccentric judge should be linked to either party.

[Kiwon]

He's pulling out all the stops. Now he's crying in court over his "lost" pants!

What a scoundrel!
.................................................. ......................

Judge chokes up in court recalling his lost trousers

WASHINGTON (AP) — A judge had to leave the courtroom with tears running down his face Tuesday after recalling the lost pair of trousers that led to his $54 million lawsuit against a dry cleaner.

Administrative law judge Roy L. Pearson had argued earlier in his opening statement that he is acting in the interest of all city residents against poor business practices. Defense attorneys called his claim "outlandish."

He originally sued Custom Cleaners for about $65 million under the District of Columbia consumer protection act and almost $2 million in common law claims. He is no longer seeking damages related to the pants, instead focusing his claims on two signs in the shop that have since been removed.

He alleges that Jin Chung, Soo Chung and Ki Chung, owners of the mom-and-pop business, committed fraud and misled consumers with signs that claimed "Satisfaction Guaranteed" and "Same Day Service."

Pearson, representing himself, said in opening that he wanted to examine the culture that allowed "a group of defendants to engage in bad business practices for five years."

An attorney for the Chungs portrayed Pearson as a bitter man with financial troubles stemming from a recent divorce who is taking out his anger on a hardworking family.

"This case is very simple. It's about one sign and the plaintiff's outlandish interpretation," attorney Chris Manning said.

The Chungs were to present their case Wednesday. Manning asked D.C. Superior Court Judge Judith Bartnoff to award them reimbursement for their legal costs if they win.

Pearson called several witnesses Tuesday who testified that they stopped going to Custom Cleaners after problems with misplaced clothes.

Pearson also called himself as a witness, saying his problems began in May 2005 when he brought in several suits for alterations. A pair of pants from a blue and maroon suit was missing when he requested it two days later. He said Soo Chung tried to give him a pair of charcoal gray pants.

As Pearson explained that those weren't the pants for the suit, he choked up and left the courtroom crying after asking Bartnoff for a break.

Pearson originally asked the cleaners for the full price of the suit, which was more than $1,000. But because the Chungs insisted the pants had been found, they refused to pay.

Manning has said the cleaners made three settlement offers to Pearson, but the judge was not satisfied and increased his demands — including asking for money to rent a car so he could drive to another business.

[packinpatland]

Live Vote
Does this suit have a leg to stand on? * 52335 responses

Yes. While $65 million or even $54 million might be a bit much, the judge makes a point about taking care of your customers, and delivering what you promise
2.5%

No. You must be kidding. The judge should be forced to trade his business suit for another one ... something in horizontal stripes
97%
Not a scientific survey. Click to learn more. Results may not total 100% due to rounding


Let a jury decide this!!!!

[packinpatland]

And award some sort of punitive damages to the Korean couple.

[MJZiggy]

Absolutely. And I still say this dude should be removed from the bench. If he's filing idiotic suits and crying in court over a pair of pants, how is he supposed to hear cases objectively?

[Zool]

How the hell did this thing ever get to trial? Lawyers are the downfall of western civilization.

[packinpatland]

"Kill the lawyers, kill them all"

Shakespeare, right?

[BallHawk]

"Shakespeare, right?

Yup. It's from Henry the VI.

[Harlan Huckleby]

maybe they're really nice pants.

[Tyrone Bigguns]

I believe dry cleaing should be left to the chinese and their ancient chinese secrets.

[Zool]

"We need more Calgon!"

[MJZiggy]

maybe they're really nice pants.

I've seen a picture. They're pants.

[mngolf19]

He is actually likely to win the lawsuit but not at the amount he is asking. The judge in this case would really only have to decide if the case has merit at all. Then he can make a judgement of what is realistic for $. By the way, the guy is asking for $2M in damages-$500k attorneys fees- and the rest would go to a consumer protection group. Just clarifying.

[packinpatland]

What pants are worth $2M????????