$54M Lost Pants Suit Brings Judge To Tears

(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.

[wolfchef]

this 'N-H-HO' pearson should team of with Durham(NC)DA mike nifong...what a team these two clowns would make. They should pack up their families (what a defective gene pool!) and move to someplace like Buttfck!

[honest_news]

"A small problem in life is that this person is spending this much enegy beating up on a dry cleaner. The much larger problem is that this case is even being heard by the court system."
Posted by payasyougo

You're exactly right, payasyougo. And the only possible reason that he's being pandered by the court is because he's a fellow jurist (allegedly) -- a member of the club.

This spiteful man, through his vanity and his pompousness, has abused the judicial system solely as a weapon to exact serious harm against this family. That the courts have permitted such an obvious and malicious abuse of power is criminal in itself.

[payasyougo]

A small problem in life is that this person is spending this much enegy beating up on a dry cleaner. The much larger problem is that this case is even being heard by the court system.

[heyitsme_76]

Tears in his eyes after recalling his lost trousers ??!! This freakin idiot sounds like Krusty Krab from SpongeBob Squarepants..

[acap74]

Who CARES if the guy is Democrat OR Republican... he's an idiot! He should have accepted the monetary compensation from those people and bought a new pair of pants. Dumb *SS, plain and simple... no political affiliation necessary. The judge should award him the retail value of the pants and $1 for pain and suffering, since he broke down and cried, then take the $1 back for wasting the courts time!

[boston1954]

What in the world were those trousers made of?!?! Must be SOLID GOLD with Diamonds set in.

[aa36042]

JackSteen1

i missed the republican reference as well. Can you point that out to me? I mean come on, does this not sound liek something only a democrat could go through with? these just reeks of the classless, "everyone is responsable but me" attitude of you libs. Its not your fault that 75% of the crackhead liberal base doesnt know who the presidental candidates are a month out from the election. This guy just smeels of democrack to me.

[aa36042]

mommajomma

of course hes a lib.. i would bet my next paycheck on that. who else could be capable of keeping a straight face (or a crying face) over somehting like this. This can only be the reasoning of a lib. I just think its funny that he is prob about as smart as they come on that side. So sad.

[jacksteen1]

Hey "mommajomma"

You missed the part about this judge's affiliation with the Republiscum Party.

He, like you, was home-skooled by a toothless, ignorant Cracker Mamma that didn't do too good a job in the readin' department.

[mommajomma-2009]

....and i'll bet the frickin' farm this gentleman is a DEMOCRACK.