$54 Million for a Pair of Pants

[BachQ]

Judge Now Wants Just $54M From Cleaner
Judge Now Asking For Only $54 Million In Suit Against Washington Dry Cleaner Over Pants

(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."

[BachQ]

Washington Post, 26 Apr 2007
Lawyer's Price For Missing Pants: $65 Million

***Pearson is demanding $65,462,500. The original alteration work on the pants cost $10.50.  He says he deserves millions for the damages he suffered by not getting his pants back, for his litigation costs, for "mental suffering, inconvenience and discomfort," for the value of the time he has spent on the lawsuit, for leasing a car every weekend for 10 years and for a replacement suit, according to court papers.

[PaulR]

He only deserves the amount of money to buy a new suit, or paints.  Nothing more...........

But truthfully, I hope the case is dismissed and he gets nothing

[Kullervo]

No, he deserves to be disbarred, castrated, and thrown off a bridge. I simply CANNOT FATHOM how this wasn't laughed out of court!

[Steve]

No, he deserves to be disbarred, castrated, and thrown off a bridge. I simply CANNOT FATHOM how this wasn't laughed out of court!

If only such outrageous torts were an uncommon event in America. Remember this is a country which thought it fit to compensate a woman tens of millions of dollars for coffee which was too hot.

[BachQ]

No, he deserves to be disbarred, castrated, and thrown off a bridge. I simply CANNOT FATHOM how this wasn't laughed out of court!

If not disbarred, he should be thrown off the bench ........

[head-case]

If only such outrageous torts were an uncommon event in America. Remember this is a country which thought it fit to compensate a woman tens of millions of dollars for coffee which was too hot.

That judgment was overturned.

[hornteacher]

What irritates me is that my tax dollars are being used for this kind of stuff.

[The Mad Hatter]

If not disbarred, he should be thrown off the bench ........

Nah, if he hurt himself he might sue.

[BachQ]

Nah, if he hurt himself he might sue.

No doubt.  If he sues for $54 million over a pair of old pants, one can only imagine what legal wrath would befall the tortfeasor who actually injures this trigger-happy litigant ........

[head-case]

The suit was dismissed, the cleaner was awarded costs.  Big surprise.

[BachQ]

The suit was dismissed, the cleaner was awarded costs.  Big surprise.

Was the cleaner awarded attorneys' fees?  That would be tens of thousands of dollars ........

[head-case]

Was the cleaner awarded attorneys' fees?  That would be tens of thousands of dollars ........

Yes, we will have to wait to see what sanctions the plaintiff is subject to.

[MishaK]

Was the cleaner awarded attorneys' fees?  That would be tens of thousands of dollars ........

According to this AP article, the attorneys' fees will be considered separately at a later time.

[head-case]

According to this AP article, the attorneys' fees will be considered separately at a later time.

You are correct, court costs were awarded, attorney fees are yet to be considered.