The $67 Million Dollar Pants
After you read this, you probably would agree with Al Bundy's Nine Sacred Commandments: 3. It's okay to put all bad people in a giant meat grinder. 4. Lawyers: see rule three. I hope we can include arrogant judges for rule 4.
ABCNEWS tells of a judge in Washington, D.C. filing a $67 million dollar civil lawsuit against a dry cleaning store for losing his pair of prized pants. Plaintiff Roy Pearson says he has endured "mental suffering, inconvenience and discomfort." He says he is unable to wear his favorite suit on his first day of work. He says he was lured in by the most insidious marketing toll in the dry cleaning industry arsenal: "Satisfaction Guaranteed."
The defenders are Korean immigrants (legal by the way) Jin and Soo Chung and their son, who own Custom Cleaners and two other dry cleaning shops in the Fort Lincoln section of DC.
How did this all started???
In 2002, Pearson took a pair of pants to Custom Cleaners and they got lost. So Jin and Soo Chung gave him a $150 check for a new pair. Three years later, it happened again. This time it was his favorite gray trousers that he wanted to wear for his new job.
So the judge demanded $1,150 for a new suit. Lawyers were hired and legal wrangling ensued. In the end, the Chungs offered Pearson $3,000 in compensation. Nope. $4,600. Nope. $12,000! Still nope.
Instead, Pearson went to the lawbooks and citing the District of Columbia's consumer protection laws, he "claims" he's entitled to $1,500 per violation, PER DAY!
So how did he come up with $67 million for damages and legal fees?
$1,500 for each violation, each day during which the "Satisfaction Guaranteed" sign and another sign promising "Same Day Service" was up in the store - more than 1,200 days.
Then he's multiplying each violation by three because he's suing Jin and Soo Chung and their son.
He also wants $500,000 in emotional damages.
Plus $542,500 in legal fees.
And he wants $15,000 for 10 years' worth of weekend car rentals (for forcing him to drive to another dry cleaner store).
Greedy Pearson even wanted to expand the case into a class action suit, but was denied by DC Civil Judge Neal Kravitz.
Amusing enough, a week after Pearson dropped off the missing trousers in 2005, the Chungs found them, but Pearson denied it was his despite that the receipt and tag do match with each other.
"I've been in the dry cleaning business for 14 years, but this has never ever happened before. If anything happened to our customers' clothing, we would always compensate them accordingly and fairly," Jin Chung said through a translator.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
It was strange enough that the lawsuit has not been thrown out yet, and who knows if this expensive civil lawsuit will be settled for much, much less. Was the point of the lawsuit to show that the customer service at the dry cleaners was not up to par? When Pearson lost his first pair of pants, he went to another dry cleaners. Three years later, he decides to try again and loses his favorite pants.
So he places the fault of those three years on the hands of the Chungs. Mental suffering? How about being called an idiot for the rest of your life? Already, the town of Fort Lincoln is laughing about it. Pearson will be known as the judge with the multi-million dollar pants wannabe.
Drop the lawsuit! It does not even score you any favors with the rest of the national spotlight regardless of your principles. I think the Chungs get the point. Settle the cost at $12,000 and go on your merry way.
Suddenly, I feel the urge to do a 'Pearson'! Let me sue someone for $100 million for not un-wrinkling my favorite shirt.
Comments
Posted by: Chris
Posted on: May 3, 2007 10:29 AM
This is whats wrong with America. This judge should be barred and shunned for his behaviour. Its disgusting that he should have brought this case and carry it this far to ruin these peoples lives over a pair of pants. Get over it Judge.
Posted by: Jessica
Posted on: May 3, 2007 11:49 AM
This is REDICULOUS!!! I mean, 1, 500 was enough, then may be 4000, but a whole 12,000?! That's still way more!
Mental suffering? How can you mentally suffer over the lose of some pants? Did he see a phsyc or something? Was this actaully proven that this stupid man really had severe enough emotional suffering to sue them for 67 million fricking dollars!?
He obviously has blown this out of GREAT proportion! And why, probably for the money, and attention. If I were in trouble and needed a judge, I would NEVER, NEVER go to him. He needs to be shunned and his title of 'Judge' should be taken away.
You can't tell me that anyone would want to still be his friend, or his family would be proud of him, right? That's wrong. You couldn't possibly love someone that greedy. That's insane.
All in all, this whole thing makes me so flustered. It's stupid, rediculous, LUDOCRIOUS!!! That poor family must feel shamed! They don't deserve it. Somebody should do something, like a world wide petition.
This shouldn't have gotten any farther than the dry cleaner's store. I hope he is punished by the wrath of God for what he did, 10 fold!
Sincerely,
Jessica
Posted by:
Posted on: May 3, 2007 01:45 PM
The rich gets richer and the average working Joe gets poorer! Greed is the root to all evil, the judge.
Posted by: Adrienne
Posted on: May 3, 2007 02:03 PM
I think his new name should be Judge Greedy. I hope he doesn't sue me.
Posted by: Clint
Posted on: May 3, 2007 03:38 PM
Will there ever be a commonsense law?
This is just stupid.
If this does ever get to court, it is a loose-loose for the owners of the cleaners. Even if they win they are going to be out all of the legal fees. They should counter sue for any and all expenses accrued by this legal battle. Then double it for pain and suffering.
Posted by:
Posted on: May 3, 2007 03:41 PM
"wwaaaaaahhh!!!! I didn't get to wear my favorite pants on my first day at work!!!" cry baby judge needs to get over it. This story makes me sick.
Posted by: Henry
Posted on: May 3, 2007 05:57 PM
I have to say it is sad for these people this is happening but this is exactly what needs to be done because customer service has been a joke for these businesses and somebody needs to take care of these issues if the better business bureau and the government is not doing something about it. It looks like superman is in DC and is taking care of business.
These business owners need to respect and serve these poor customers that do not have the time, the energy, the knowledge to deal with their foolishness. Finally someone who knows what he is doing legally is getting down to business and guess what I hope we have more and more people like this fine gentlemen fighting for their rights as a consumer who actually PAY for service that is usually mediocre.
Posted by: Michael French
Posted on: May 3, 2007 06:51 PM
This is a example of exactly the "out of control" mess - we call our legal system. The actual judge who has let this go on is as much of the problem as the bottom feeding pond scum that lost his pants. I hope someone can step up to the plate and get some justice.
Posted by: Tina
Posted on: May 3, 2007 10:18 PM
They should change his title to the "Dishonorable Roy Pearson"! To call you an ASSHOLE would be an insult to assholes. You arean absolute disgrace to our legal system. It must be something to have never made a mistake before. Your mercy and grace are very moving. I bet you are a little man who suffers greatly from the Napoleon Complex! As the saying goes "put on your big girl pants and deal with it!" LOSER!
Posted by: William Smith
Posted on: May 4, 2007 01:30 AM
What do you expect from a black D.C. judge. He should run for Mayor, only thing white in D.C. are the buildings.
Posted by: Ethan
Posted on: May 4, 2007 02:08 PM
this is pathetic. 500,000 in emotional damages.WOW i can't emagine what he feels like when he loses a case.
Posted by:
Posted on: May 4, 2007 11:56 PM
WOW' this is wrong. If they are smart they need to ask for a trial by jury. Nobody can possibly think that this is right. 67 million, pair of pants?? they should also file a countersuit. about 3 million for the Atourney and for lost buisness. heck who knnow maybe they should go for 500,000 emotional damage that this causded them. This Judge should be disbarred of his duty to the American Justice System
Posted by: Gary
Posted on: May 5, 2007 08:08 AM
I have heard of some frivolous lawsuits over the years (ie; prisoners suing for not having crunchy peanut butter, not being able to practive voodoo and kill a chicken in prison) those suits look sane compared to what this Judge(I use that term extremely loosley)is doing. He should be taken to the proverbial wood shed. I hope this fool gets what he deserves. And I hope he remebers "So shall you reap what you sew"
Posted by:
Posted on: May 5, 2007 12:32 PM
Henry your half right. This should done because customer service has been a joke for a long time. Another joke is suing 67 million for a pair of pants
Posted by:
Posted on: May 5, 2007 12:36 PM
If Pearson has suffered this much emotional damage over a pair of pants, how is he a judge.
Posted by:
Posted on: May 5, 2007 12:48 PM
he should be sued for running a mocary of the American Justice System in the United States and giving America a bad reputation. It's people like this that are going to stop imigration.
Posted by: Amsala
Posted on: May 5, 2007 11:29 PM
The Bully Judge is crazy and should be barred from the bench. Poor Korean people :-(. HE is abusing his power just because he holds a sensitive position in the government.
Posted by: Maria
Posted on: May 6, 2007 03:45 AM
OMG! This man need to get some counseling big time. This is INSANE. This is a nightmare for the dry cleaning people. Things get lost sometimes but for a pair of PANTS? Are you kidding me? This case need to get thrown out.
Posted by: Brendan
Posted on: May 7, 2007 01:39 AM
This is an abuse of knowlege and power. One would think with the education that he has had to get where he is, that he would be more reasonable and know that he suit is a joke. Just another example of how many people become self righteous and abusive when give power. How sad some people are.
It is a true tragedy because this couple will most likely be in financial ruin because of this b*st*rd. I weep for them. I just hope when all is said and done there will be some justice for the "little guy".
Posted by: Vikkii
Posted on: May 8, 2007 05:19 PM
To Henry: fine justice has been served if they get sued for something like this... but $67 million.. come on.. get real.. the Judge ain't a fine gentleman.. he's a greedy b*astard
Posted by:
Posted on: June 13, 2007 07:06 AM
Is (was) he a Social Security ALJ?
Social Security Judges are like who they work for.
A law unto themselves with NO idea of what life OR reality is.
Posted by: regina
Posted on: June 13, 2007 04:56 PM
I go to this cleaners all the time. They misplaced a skirt from one of my suits and they looked until they found it. They told me if they didn't find my skirt they will pay for it. They are very nice people it' a shame this stupid judge is during this to them.
Posted by: Zorro
Posted on: June 15, 2007 01:38 PM
I think that the judge is out of his mind. Why not take the $12,000.00 I do not care how much the pants costed or how much he liked them they are not worth$67,000,000.00. After all if the lost a pair of pants once already and he took a new pair of pants. After all he was aware of the possibility of the pants could of been lost like once before. The Judge could of went to another dry cleaners. I think the judge is nuts and if the justice system orders the Dry Cleaners to pay
then The United States of America law system needs to be re evaluated real Bad
Posted by: Broken
Posted on: June 19, 2007 02:09 PM
I had a bone in my foot split in half in a store, had the bone removed, with two surgries to remove it. I'm not even getting nearly close to 1 million. Maybe I need to ask for more. I can't even wear shoes any more.
Posted by: Broken
Posted on: June 19, 2007 02:10 PM
I had a bone in my foot split in half in a store, had the bone removed, with two surgries to remove it. I'm not even getting nearly close to 1 million. Maybe I need to ask for more. I can't even wear shoes any more. That's crazy.
Posted by: Broken
Posted on: June 19, 2007 02:10 PM
I had a bone in my foot split in half in a store, had the bone removed, with two surgries to remove it. I'm not even getting nearly close to 1 million. Maybe I need to ask for more. I can't even wear shoes any more. That's crazy.
Posted by: Eddie
Posted on: June 20, 2007 01:11 AM
Henry, you probably think DA Nifong is a great man. How would you like to appear before Pearson for a first time misdemeanor, how does a life sentence sound. You have choices where you shop, if you don't like the service at one place you can certainly go to another. Henry, your the only one of all the comments on this site and all the people I heard on TV and talk radio who thinks that Pearson has anything near a valid claim for that amount of money. You must be the village idiot.
Posted by: Hunter
Posted on: June 25, 2007 12:11 PM
Judge Pearson should be commited to the lunatic asylum. Do they still have lunatic asylums in DC? Hey Judge, why don't you sue me for $64 million for defamation? No one in their right mind sues for $64 million for a pair of pants!
Posted by: J. Sickler
Posted on: July 5, 2007 02:33 PM
As you are undoubtedly aware, a $54 million lawsuit was recently brought in DC District Court against a small neighborhood drycleaners over a pair of alleged lost trousers. While the Court found resoundingly in favor of the business owners, Jin and Soo Chung, their ordeal is not yet over—they have drained their saving accounts contesting this frivolous lawsuit, and they have racked up over $100,000 in legal expenses.
In order to help the Chungs defray their legal bills, ILR and the American Tort Reform Association are co-hosting a fundraiser on Tuesday evening, July 24 at 6 p.m. at the US Chamber Building in Washington, DC. Unfortunately, businesses large and small across America must deal every day with similar extortionist tactics from some plaintiffs’ lawyers. The collective outcome is not justice, but lost jobs, ruined businesses and billions of dollars in lost economic opportunity. Additional details, sponsorship opportunities and easy online registration are available at www.chungfundraiser.com.
Posted by: Mike
Posted on: July 11, 2007 06:31 PM
Crazy brotha
Posted by: Philip DeVos
Posted on: July 16, 2007 02:53 PM
3 lawyers conspired to bring a case to court that I believe no non-lawyers would EVER drop like the stinking road kill that it was.
The CHAMPION of the defendants is no more admirable than the gentleman plaintiff who brought this case. The final WONDER of WONDERs is the third lawyer who allowed this case to come to court, and allowed Said CHAMPION to collect fees from the defendants. Did the 3 lawyers split the fees? After all the 3 were certainly complicit in the deal.
Posted by: ratan
Posted on: July 18, 2007 03:59 PM
The best way to stop these idiotic, frivilous lawsuits is to penalize the the plaintiff with not only the expenses of the defendants but also a HUGE PENALTY, say $54 million ! And since it was judge suing, throw him from his seat and also take away his legal license (to harass people).