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

[GoPackGo]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19414287?GT1=10056

Dry cleaner wins in $54 million suit for pants
Judge rules plaintiff must pay court costs

WASHINGTON - A judge ruled Monday in favor of a dry cleaner that was sued for $54 million over a missing pair of pants.

The owners of Custom Cleaners did not violate the city's Consumer Protection Act by failing to live up to Roy L. Pearson's expectations of the "Satisfaction Guaranteed" sign once displayed in the store window, District of Columbia Superior Court Judge Judith Bartnoff ruled.

Bartnoff ordered Pearson to pay the court costs of defendants Soo Chung, Jin Nam Chung and Ki Y. Chung.

Pearson, an administrative law judge, originally sought $67 million from the Chungs, claiming they lost a pair of suit trousers and later tried to give him a pair that he said was not his. He arrived at the amount by adding up years of alleged law violations and almost $2 million in common law claims.

Pearson later dropped demands for damages related to the pants and focused his claims on signs in the shop, which have since been removed.

Chris Manning, the Chungs' attorney, argued that no reasonable person would interpret the signs to mean an unconditional promise of satisfaction.

The Chungs said the trial had taken an enormous financial and emotional toll on them and exposed them to widespread ridicule.

The two-day trial earlier this month drew a standing-room-only crowd and overshadowed the drunken driving trial of former Mayor Marion Barry.



thank god common sense prevailed on this one.

[digitaldean]

thank god common sense prevailed on this one.

Now it sounds like that Judge (who is appointed to renewable terms) may lose his post. The same panel that initially recommended he get reappointed has now reversed its recommendation.

Sounds justice may be done after all!

[MJZiggy]

Good. That's what I was hoping for. Any sitting judge should have the ability to determine whether his claim is legitimate or frivolous and should use common sense in all legal matters.

[packinpatland]

Packface wrote:

thank god common sense prevailed on this one.

My exact sentiment.

[Kiwon]

Hello from the Philippines.

Just read the news. I'm happy with the outcome and echo the sentiment wondering why the lawsuit even got as far as it did.

I hope the judge loses his position and takes a job as a delivery boy for a dry cleaners.

[BallHawk]

Kiwon, are you in Manila?

[Kiwon]

Kiwon, are you in Manila?

Until Saturday.

[BallHawk]

Business or pleasure?

[Kiwon]

Business or pleasure?

Both. Nothing in the Philippines is all business. The hospitality of the people is too great. Beautiful place. Everyone should visit.

[Joemailman]

Kiwon, are you in Manila?

Until Saturday.

Shopping for shoes?

[the_idle_threat]

$54 Million Pants Lawsuit Not Over Yet

$54 Million Pants Plaintiff to Ask Judge to Reconsider Ruling

Dry Cleaners Ask for $83,000 in Legal Fees

http://abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/story?id=3352645

By SCOTT MICHELS
July 6, 2007

The case of the $54 million pants continues.

The man who sued a Washington, D.C., dry cleaners for $54 million over a missing pair of pants plans to ask the judge who threw out his case to reconsider her ruling, the dry cleaners' lawyer said today.

Roy Pearson wrote to Christopher Manning, who is representing the Custom Cleaners dry cleaning shop, this week to alert him that he planned to ask Judge Judith Bartnoff to overturn her ruling, Manning said.

Bartnoff ruled last month that Pearson's lawsuit against Soo and Jin Chung, the Korean immigrants who own Custom Cleaners, had no merit, saying that he was "entitled to no relief whatsoever." Pearson had asked for $54 million because he said the Chungs had lost a pair of his prized trousers, despite signs that promised "Satisfaction Guaranteed."

Pearson plans to argue that Bartnoff failed to address his legal claims and will ask her to reverse her ruling, Manning said.

In correspondence this week, Manning asked Pearson to reconsider his appeal — and to move on. Pearson responded by saying he would continue to fight for the best interests of the public.

Calling the case a "multimillion-dollar nightmare," Manning filed court papers Thursday asking Bartnoff to force Pearson to pay nearly $83,000 in legal fees. Bartnoff has already ordered Pearson to pay the Chungs' court costs, which are about $5,000, Manning said.

The case, which lasted two years, gained national attention soon after the lawsuit was filed. Pearson, a former administrative law judge, drew fire not only from an outraged public, but from trial lawyers and tort reform advocates across the country.

A panel that selects Washington's administrative law judges is considering whether to reappoint Pearson to a 10-year term as a judge. [Editor's note: FUCK NO]

The American Tort Reform Association and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce are hosting a fundraiser for the Chungs July 24.


************************


Surprise!!! This pissmop just doesn't wanna give it up. It figures he would appeal though, given that he's taken it this far and has nothing left to lose. His 15 min. window is closing rapidly.

[BallHawk]

Scumbag.

[Kiwon]

$54 Million Pants Lawsuit Not Over Yet

Pearson plans to argue that Bartnoff failed to address his legal claims and will ask her to reverse her ruling, Manning said.

What part of "you lost" doesn't this guy understand? I bet he will go to jail before he pays the Chungs anything.

It's unbelievable that this guy could have donned a robe and sat in judgment of others.

[MJZiggy]

Quick update...

Pants Plaintiff Still Waits on Status as Judge

By Joe Holley
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, August 2, 2007; 10:22 AM

The Washington man who filed a $54 million lawsuit over a missing pair of pants must wait a few more days to find out whether he'll continue to serve as a D.C. administrative law judge.

Roy Pearson expected to learn his fate last night, after a judicial panel reviewing whether he should keep his job met for several hours. The three-judge panel did not reach a decision and is now expected to decide early next week.

Pearson, who has practiced law for 25 years, was appointed an administrative law judge in 2005. Administrative law judges are city employees who hear disputes between a government agency and individuals who have lodged complaints against the agency.

Meanwhile, a fundraiser last week for Pearson's adversaries in the missing pants case, Soo Chung and Jin Nam Chung, raised more than $60,000 toward their legal bills. An earlier appeal garnered more than $30,000 for the Chungs, owners of Custom Cleaners and Dry Cleaners in Northeast.

Although the total amount comes close to covering the family's legal expenses, Pearson is expected to file additional appeals. Superior Court Judge Judith Barnoff ruled six weeks ago that the Chungs did not owe Pearson anything.

[packinpatland]

This went way past borderline ridiculous awhile ago.

They should put together a panel to decide the guys' mental status, and then check him in somewhere.