Dry Cleaner Wins In $54M Pants Case
Judge Rules In Favor Of Company That Was Sued Over A Missing Pair Of Pants
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$67M Lawsuit Over Lost Pants
Judge Roy Pearson is suing a Washington, D.C., dry cleaner for $67 million over a lost pair of pants. Harry Smith speaks with legal analyst Mickey Sherman about a lawsuit that may seem frivolous.
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District of Columbia Superior Court Judge Judith Bartnoff ruled that Jin Nam Chung and Ki Y. Chung did not violate the city's Consumer Protection Act. (AP Photo)
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CBSNews.com Legal Analyst Andrew Cohen's new blog on the big issues and analyzes important cases of the day.
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 that was once placed 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. Those costs came to just over $1,000, according to the Chungs' attorney. A motion to recover the tens of thousands of dollars they spent in attorney fees will be considered later.
Pearson, an administrative law judge, originally sought $67 million from the Chungs after he claimed they lost a pair of trousers from a blue and maroon suit, then later tried to return a pair of charcoal gray pants that he said were not his. He arrived at the amount by adding up years of law violations and almost $2 million in common law claims for fraud.
Pearson later dropped demands for damages related to the pants and focused his claims on signs in the shop, which have since been removed.
The two-day trial earlier this month drew a standing-room-only crowd, including many Korean and international media outlets covering the story.
In issuing her ruling Monday, the judge wrote that Pearson failed to prove that the pants the dry cleaner tried to return were not the pants he brought in for alterations.
"A reasonable consumer would not interpret 'Satisfaction Guaranteed' to mean that a merchant is required to satisfy a customer's unreasonable demands or to accede to demands that the merchant has reasonable grounds to dispute," the judge wrote.
Chris Manning, the Chungs' attorney, praised the ruling.
"Judge Bartnoff has spoken loudly in suggesting that, while consumers should be protected, abusive lawsuits like this will not be tolerated," Manning said in a statement. "Judge Bartnoff has chosen commonsense and reasonableness over irrationality and unbridled venom."
The Chungs have said the trial exacted an enormous financial and emotional toll on them and exposed them to widespread ridicule.
Pearson did not immediately respond to a call and an e-mail seeking comment. Manning said he expected Pearson to appeal.
During the trial, Pearson testified that he wanted only $2 million in damages for himself — for his mental anguish and inconvenience — plus $500,000 in attorney's fees for representing himself. Any additional money that the judge might award would go into a fund "to educate people of their rights under the consumer protection act," he said.
The case garnered international attention and renewed calls for litigation reform.
"This case was giving American justice a black eye around the world, and it was all the more upsetting because it was a judge and lawyer who was bringing the suit," said Paul Rothstein, a Georgetown University law professor.
Rothstein said Monday's ruling "restores one's confidence in the legal system."
© MMVII The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.



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See all 108 Commentsis absolutely correct.
...
Yes we need a righteous heavenly Kingdom with Jesus as our King, to right the wrongs of the whole entire world. After thousands of years we have proof, as in this case, that mankind cannot rule themselves. Humans should not rule each other. Greed, Violence, Drunkenness, Homosexuality and so on...all forms of sin as found in the Bible, are found in men. Regardless of their prominence and position. What is needed is the realization that pants only have one value, and that the production of pants is abundant. A person only needs to go to the store and get another and forgive the dry cleaners. Simple solution! Jesus said it!
In my observation, Korean-Americans are usually quiet, good citizens who work very hard at businesses that nobody else does because of the hours involved. Just the fact that this man was able to put these people through the ordeal is a disgrace.
I know that now this insensitive person might look for me so he can sue for the fact that I said he was spineless while he actually has a spine, but don't woryy, buddy, yours is only plastic. I can only hope that by the time the Chungs finish suing him for damages, he's too poor to buy another pair of pants.
Who do I sue?
Congratulations to the Chungs. Hard working people do not deserve such over a PAIR OF PANTS? Where has our system allowed us to go?
My coffee was hot last night at a coffee shop. Should I sue? What if is was too cold? What if I had to wait in line too long. I am a busy person...my time is valuable. Should I sue over such?
I was raised better.
Thank you mom and dad! for setting straight what is important and what is not.
Finally a BS lawsuit that got smacked down hard! That should send a message to all the lawsuit happy "Boo hoo Tigger hit me at Disney World" & "McDonalds made me fat" idiots who take no responsibility for their own selves & want everyone else to pay for their existance & stupidity.
This "lost pants" case is an example of "*** Happens". They offered to make good. He should have just accepted that & got over it. Some other dry cleaner may not have accepted responsibility. They did, but others doing the right thing was something Pearson couldn't handle since "doing the right thing" is so far from his own reality he wouldn't know it if it bit him on his pants-less arse!
Pearson should be disbarred & made to walk around pantless wearing a sandwhich board that says "Kick me I'm a greedy moron loser".
Lawyers don't think they're funny and the rest of us don't think they're jokes.
Finally a BS lawsuit that got smacked down hard! That should send a message to all the lawsuit happy "Boo hoo Tigger hit me at Disney World" & "McDonalds made me fat" idiots who take no responsibility for their own selves & want everyone else to pay for their existance & stupidity.
This "lost pants" case is an example of "*** Happens". They offered to make good. He should have just accepted that & got over it. Some other dry cleaner may not have accepted responsibility. They did, but others doing the right thing was something Pearson couldn't handle since "doing the right thing" is so far from his own reality he wouldn't know it if it bit him on his pants-less arse!
Pearson should be disbarred & made to walk around pantless wearing a sandwhich board that says "Kick me I'm a greedy moron loser".
Who do I sue?" Posted by rushlimpdrug at 11:34 AM : Jun 25, 2007
HAHAHAHHAAA!!!! Excellent post.
Strangely enough, there's probably a lawyer right now reading your post thinking: "I know someone you can sue. Call me."
On behalf of America, I apologize for the greed and stupidity that has run rampant in this country for decades. I understand you came here to 'live the American Dream'. Sadly, that "dream" has become a fantasy for many in this country... mostly due to the greed and stupidity of others. It is unfortunate that you had to spend thousands of dollars of your hard earned (and well deserved) money just to defend yourselves against this corruption of human society. Please forgive the American people, virtually all of us were on your side. As for the greedy *** in this country...
... BURN IN H.E.L.L'S DEEPEST AND HOTTEST FIRE!
Warmest Regards,
I second that. Thanks for puting that out. You are a TRUE American for saying that.
(Makes ya wonder what makes these pants so important. Something left in a pocket perhaps?!? HMMMMMMMMM................)
He ought to be ashamed of himself trying to sue for millions for a pair of 80.00 pants.
Good for him!!
I think there should have been a directed verdict of no liability. The defandants should get all court costs and legal fees
so-called judge that brought the lawsuit, and whoever let it go as far as to make it to a court docket, ought to be charged DOUBLE whatever the court costs were to this dry cleaner. I'm sick and tired of this kind of cr@p in this country and it's about time someone on the bench said so! Good for the sister woman and good for the defendants!
I hope the Chungs sue him for every thing he owns, including his pants! What he did to that family is unforgiveable.
Should be on ebay soon....
Posted by MissUT2 at 01:07 PM : Jun 25, 2007
I agree 100%. But first, disbar him like Nifong.
This moron who sued should be removed from the bench as a judge, he isn't fit and this suit proves it.
At least one judge has common sense! the dry cleaners should sue for damages.
From the top down our judicial system is becoming a joke.
I would expect that when jurors award such amounts, they are affected by their own frustration with big companies, and the feeling that these companies are able to get away with gross injustices, which is true.
bye bye
No, what pisses me off is comments like yours - obviously coming from a half-wit - and yes, I'm white. Having to share the planet with @ssholes like you really sucks.
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