$54M Lost Pants Suit Brings Judge To Tears

D.C. Judge Chokes Up While Testifying About His Missing Trousers

(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.

[questionnews]

I have a cotton polo shirt that's gotta be worth at least $20 mil by this standard. Time to go to the cleaners & get some cash.

[soldat44]

"A judge had to leave the courtroom with tears running down his face Tuesday after recalling the lost pair of trousers..."

Is there a therapist in the house?

This poor man needs counseling...good gravy.

[animalfarm2]

This jerk doesn't need counseling, he needs jail time for tying up the courts with such a stupid case. And as a judge he should know better.

[ramos937]

As an employee of the City, Judge Jefferson has a supervisor. Can this person please have a heart-to-heart with Jefferson and tell him either stop making an *** of himself and the City by association or quit his job or be fired?

[news3497]

You're supposed to love your clothes, not LOVE your clothes.

I didn't think it could get worse than McDonald's hot coffee. I was wrong.

[ripley101-2009]

Roy Pearson has some nerve even pulling the crying game in the courtroom. The next thing you know, Roy Pearson is going to pull the race card on this and get Rev. Sharpton involved. This episode is as bad as that Paris Hilton jail episode. If someone were to ask me about what are the fundamental errors of the American legal system, I'd point to the Hilton and Pearson cases. I wish that Judge Bartnoff put an end to this nonsensical lawsuit filed by Mr. Pearson with finality, and compensate the poor couple who has endured so much stress and grief. Can I request the Supreme Court, or at least the Mayor of Washington D.C. to at least censure this guy for his stupidity and a frivolous lawsuit that, at the end of the day, is a foolish waste of taxpayer money and gives the Courts a very bad rep. Better yet, disbar him and ensure he never holds office ever again!

[gunownerdan]

The destruction of America, one lawsuit at a time.

[rushlimpdrug]

"A judge had to leave the courtroom with tears running down his face"
I hope he wasn't wearing heels a skirt and pantieson his way out.
Where is Jesse Jackson?
Where is Al Sharpton?
This is one pathetic LAWYER.
By the way when she ran out of the courtroom was it as a judge,defendant or lawyer?
Someone needs to get a grip on these headlines

[excelsior9]

I'll be the first one to pull out the race card, on the Korean Dry Cleaners behalf. I think there is more than meets the eye. I think Pearson is racist.

[randalds]

He deserves to be sent to prison...for bad acting!

[thickredhair]

why has this even made it to a court rm, this is a pathetic waste of court time

[rushlimpdrug]

No doubt Roy L. Pearson is a $kanky $lut.
And like most $lut$ this is his way to make some easy money.

[rharrin1]

Hang him with the crotch of his own pants.

[mikealford3]

A judge had to leave the courtroom in tears, I cannot imagine "laughing" that hard in court. The plantiff is a judge and he should be disbarred for such ridiculus actions. $54 for a pair of pants, wonder what the whole suit would be worth.


JUST MORE FOOLISH NEWS FROM THE CRAZIEST NATION ON THIS EARTH.

[randalds]

He has to be a republican! He simply has to be! No one other then a republican would push such a ridiculous case for money this far! LOL!

[rushlimpdrug]

"He has to be a republican! . . . "
Posted by RandalDS
A black republican with no pants crying as he runs out of a courtroom? ?

[libocrat]

He's black. And he's a nut.
He's liberal.

[susanhelit]

Two words...




Counter - suit!


I think the damages could run pretty high. The city should fine him for wasting the courts time with a blatantly frivilous lawsuit.



And, for some fun - OK, he wears a blue and maroon suit! And he gets teary about his missing pants. And he's a pathetic, moronic, nutcase. Ladies and Gentlemen, Homer Simpson lives! Or is it Peter Griffen? Either way, this guy is a caricature, a full on cartoon character.

[mo005]

My eyes hurt after long nights laying on my BUTT watching tv, I wonder if I sued the makers of my TV I could get 47 million dollars for my pain and suffering.hmmmmmm!!!!

[pastdue1]

Are the two judges involved in this action both Bush appointees. Why were they not replaced? Probably because a lost pair of trousers was high on the "a loyal Bushee list"

[grammawhamma]

Disbarr this nut case and make him pay the Chungs big bucks for ruining their business and even more big $$'s for the pain and suffering he caused them...then maybe he will have a good reason to cry.

[middleman8]

ANYONE CONVICTED OF AN OFFENCE IN THIS CRASY JUDGES COURT SOULD QUALIFY FOR A MISSTRIAL.
ONLY IN AMERICA.

[erichsh]

Nice job there, Jacksteen1. You managed to impugn blacks, low-wage earners, lawyers, and Republicans all in one nasty, vitrolic, bitter, hate-filled little mini-post. This from a member of the party that's all-feeling, all-caring, all-encompassing advocates for minorities, minimum-wage earners, and the rule of law.

[likeitis5050]

Judges like this are the reason our courts are too busy dealing with stupid cases to really do justice to those who desperately need it. People who bring lawsuits like this should be tossed from court and the lawyers representing them suspended until they prove they know the difference between frivolous and serious. I'm sure there are judges out there cringing at the sight of this pathetic excuse for a judge.

[randalds]

"He has to be a republican! . . . "
Posted by RandalDS
A black republican with no pants crying as he runs out of a courtroom? ?
Posted by rushlimpdrug at 06:33 PM : Jun 13, 2007

Well it sounds like Ted Haggard to me. LOL!

[hissteps4u]

This Horriable Judge needs to be Disbarred for his Frivilous action and every resident ought to ignore him and send a Message that folks like him wont be tolerated for holding the legal system as Hostage. What a Fool and Jerk...

[creeper00]

From Wikipedia: "on May 2, 2005, Pearson was appointed as an administrative law judge for Washington D.C."

I'd love to know who appointed him. Near as I can tell, it was a commission in Washington, DC.

This man is neither Republican or Democrat. He's just plain nuts.

[klewt]

This should have been dismissed or forced into binding arbitration. The judge who brought the suit, and the one who agreed to hear it should BOTH be disbarred. Who is going to repay us taxpayers for all the wasted money to take this ridiculous petty matter through court? Think I'll sue Wendy's for messing up my lunch order today.

[brianbwb-2009]

to randalDS,
quote "A black republican with no pants crying as he runs out of a courtroom? ?
Posted by rushlimpdrug at 06:33 PM : Jun 13, 2007"

Ever heard of Alan Keys? Colin Powell? Rice?

Delusion is not unique to any ethnicity, there are "black" republucans Chinese republicans, Gay republicans...

[ron3w]

Why is everyone taking the side of the cleaners? This is obviously a heart-wrenching tragedy for the poor judge whose pants were so horribly mishandled. Just who do the Chungs think they are, anyway? The judge should be commended for exercising his civic duty by taking them to the cleaners for their sartorial incompetence. In fact, I feel he would make a splendid replacement for Alberto Gonzales. Talent like this doesn%u2019t come along every day.

[Geminate]

For everyone involved - to the gas chambers!

[wolfchef]

ooops sorry JUDGE ROY PEARSON

[wolfchef]

it's true that the 'emperor has no clothes'...nor a brain...where did da judge,roy pearson, get his degree??the back of a matchbook??? This is why voters want affirmative action eliminated.

[michaelh2001]

Ran crying from the courtroom? Wow! "The Paris Hilton - offense!" Hopefully Pearson will lose and have to pay for the legal fees of the other side.

No wonder his wife took a powder.

[dbrunk57]

I think we, as a country should find cause to file suit against Pearson for missuse of the judicial system ... to the tune of say ... 54 million dollars

[mdk2dude]

We all feel the same about this abuse heaped on these working people that have now lost everything just defending themselves from this pig. His color is not important or is his political party. He should know better and they should rule against him for bringing a foolish lawsuit,fine him and give the money to help the poor family that runs the cleaners.

[beadazzle]

Just another day in the judicial system. Screwed up judges and lawyers. This should have never gotten this far. The judge should have accepted the fact that his pants were missing and just gone and bought another pair of slacks instead of wasting the courts time over such a stupid matter.

[jusred1]

this is for proudjew2004...that comment wasnt necessary that...i have been to these lil oriental for alterations or nail shops and they change prices to meet their needs..price is never the same twice..no matter how many times i try give them the benefit of doubt they do something to make me go somewhere else that is "american owned" 100%...if has that sign in the store same day service and/or satisfaction guaranteed then they should honor it...it wouldnt have happened like that in an american owned store thats for *** sure...it would have been resolved in a timely manner but they try to find ways to get out of it and it makes it more frustrating for the consumer til you finally jus go all out as this man has done..bet if was a white man you wouldnt be doin all the name calling

[rillifane]

Calhoun the lawyer lives!

Who needs Amos and Andy re-runs when we have someone like this actually practicing law and serving as an administrative law judge.

[whatanidiot1]

For every hard working man, there is a lazy idiot trying to scam his way through life!

[luckygirl042]

Geeze, I hope this guy isn't still sitting on the bench trying cases. How can a grown man run crying from a courtroom over a pair of PANTS?? What did I miss? The whole world's gone mad.

[jasonmcj]

Ah yes, the stupidity of bigots

"..wouldnt have happened like that in an american owned store thats for *** sure"
Posted by jusred1 at 03:01 AM : Jun 14, 2007

[giord1la]

This is ridiculous. All this over a stupid pair of pants.

[dovestar]

Let me get this straight. This fellow runs crying from a courtroom over a stupid pair of pants? And he wants 54 million?
And he's judging the merits of cases filed by other people?
Who needs lawyer jokes when we've got real life examples like this?
Problem is, if this guy wins his case, he will have taken his cleaners to the cleaners.
And nobody will be laughing.

[ov442]

I dont see any kind of legal basis here. Its not like they harmed him in some way bodily or mentally. If there is mental trauma, it was there before his pants got lost.
If Every business was required by Law to perform perfectly with no mistakes and perfect customer satisfaction, we'd have a whole New world. but thats not the case. In fact if the Government was held to that standard we'd be 100 times more efficient and effective.

The cleaners offered the man reasonable settlements long ago. Im not saying this business wasnt shoddy, but its their right to be shoddy if they want to be. Its up to people to decide not to go to the business that doesnt perform for their money.
But this case hasnt proved anything but that No less than a Judge is wasting american taxpayer money by even bringing this to court.
what a disgrace!

[dovestar]

Wasn't there another fellow a few years ago who dropped a pair of pants in Washington?
Seems it happened in an Oval Office but it was a blue dress, not the pants, that were taken to the cleaners.
O, well. That's Washington. First in war, first in peace, and last in common sense.

[cathaleen]

This is so stupid. This is just a nuisance suit which the judge should throw out and have that idiot thrown in jail.

[reel-crazy]

It appears that someone has finally found out the definition of Martinizing...

[jlyn74]

if this idiot gets ANYTHING from these poor people, or if these people don't get attorney's fees awarded to them to defend this frivolous case, i think i'm gonna have to move to another country. what a TRAVESTY!

[grumpas]

This guy must be doing it for the attention he is getting out of it! This is such a waste of the taxpayers money. Someone needs to sue him for hassassment.