Dry Cleaner Wins Missing Pants Case (D.C. judge loses $54 million suit)

Del Rio News Herald ^ | 06/25/07 | LUBNA TAKRURI

[TigerLikesRooster]

Jun 25, 10:40 AM EDT

Dry Cleaner Wins Missing Pants Case

By LUBNA TAKRURI
Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A judge ruled Monday in favor of a dry cleaner that was sued for $54 million over a missing pair of pants.

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 once displayed 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.

Pearson, an administrative law judge, originally sought $67 million from the Chungs, claiming they lost a pair of suit trousers and later tried to give him a pair that he said was not his. He arrived at the amount by adding up years of alleged law violations and almost $2 million in common law claims.

Pearson later dropped demands for damages related to the pants and focused his claims on signs in the shop, which have since been removed.

Chris Manning, the Chungs' attorney, argued that no reasonable person would interpret the signs to mean an unconditional promise of satisfaction.

The Chungs said the trial had taken an enormous financial and emotional toll on them and exposed them to widespread ridicule.

The two-day trial earlier this month drew a standing-room-only crowd and overshadowed the drunken driving trial of former Mayor Marion Barry.

[Jaded]

The jerk needs to be disbarred too.

[true_blue_texican]

and overshadowed the drunken driving trial of former Mayor Marion Barry.

Well that's just so passe', anymore.

[rockabyebaby]

Hot diggity dog!!! Woooohooooooooo, the Chungs should counter sue for legal bills and mental anguish.............

[true_blue_texican]

He also need to pay the Chungs for legal fees and emotional distress. And he should be tarred and feathered.

[TigerLikesRooster]

The Pants in Question

Jin Chung, left, with his legal team Chris Manning, and Mendi Sossamon, display the contentious pair of pants while delivering a statement to the media after the first day of Jin and Soo Chung's trial in Washington on Tuesday, June 12, 2007. The Chungs are being sued by DC judge Roy Pearson for 54 million dollars for what he calls 'mis-leading signage' at their dry-cleaning business. Sossamon is holding a bag with a pair of pants that were part of the original suit. The part of the suit involving the alleged loss of those pants has since been dropped. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

[3AngelaD]

And “Judge” Pearson has to pay the defendants’ legal bills. This so rocks.

[theDentist]

I’m surprised the ruling Judge didn’t verbally dope-slap the judge who brought the suit for wasting everybody’s time.

[The_Victor]

and overshadowed the drunken driving trial of former Mayor Marion Barry.

Well that's just so passe', anymore.

Like Marion Barry driving drunk is even news.

[mtbopfuyn]

"Plaintiff Roy L. Pearson, Jr. takes nothing from the defendants, and defendants Soo Chung, Jin Nam Chung and Ki Y. Chung are awarded the costs of this action against the plaintiff Roy L. Pearson, Jr.," the ruling read.

Good, the whiny judge gets to pay costs. The dry cleaners should sue him for defamation and anything else they can think of. He should be disbarred (or was he simply elected with no experience?) for wasting the court's time.

[constant]

“Judge Judy ordered Pearson to pay the court costs of the defendants..”....Justice.

[libs_kma]

"Bartnoff ordered Pearson to pay the court costs of defendants Soo Chung, Jin Nam Chung and Ki Y. Chung."

This POS should have to pay their lawyer fees too.

That would cut down on frivolous lawsuits if the one who brought the lawsuit lost their case, they had to pay for the defendants lawyers and time lost.

[joebuck]

"And “Judge” Pearson has to pay the defendants’ legal bills. This so rocks."

Not correct. An order to pay "costs" does not include attorney fees. It looks like each side has to pay their own attorney fees.

[Nasty McPhilthy]

I hope youse guys wern’t just sitting around waiting for this verdict to come in. ;-)

[ShasheMac]

“a pair of pants that were part of the original suit”

I wonder if he got two pairs of pants with that suit?

[RDTF]

there is some sanity in DC after all

[Guenevere]

GOod job!

[PBRSTREETGANG]

...and overshadowed the drunken driving trial of former Mayor Marion Barry.

Which "bitch set him up" this time?

[3AngelaD]

So I guess they will have to sue him to recover their attorneys’ fees.

[VRWCmember]

Stupid judge thought they should lose their shirts just because they lost his pants?

[DungeonMaster]

If this judge is a male version of the ho that charged the Duke LaCross players with rape! Biblically he should have the same punishment on himself that he sought for his victims, poverty and out of business.

[ElkGroveDan]

Sossamon is holding a bag with a pair of pants that were part of the original suit.

Well if the pants were part of "the original suit", I want to know what happened to the coat and vest!

[JimmyMc]

“Driving drunk” - Thought he was more into coke, and I don’t mean the soda.

[TigerLikesRooster]

He grew up and moderated his recreation habit.:-)

[toldyou]

“And “Judge” Pearson has to pay the defendants’ legal bills. This so rocks.”

On another thread, a FReeper said someone on the media said this only includes court costs. I hope that’s wrong. He should be made to pay their attorney fees.

[The_Victor]

“Driving drunk” - Thought he was more into coke, and I don’t mean the soda.

OK, call it "impaired."

Hmmm, that might be too broad.....

[txrangerette]

It’s only court costs. But if they choose they can now sue him for filing a wrongful lawsuit and for infliction of emotional distress, according to Greg Jarrett on FNC, in which case they could ask for recovery of legal fees.

[Exit148]

I hope ALL the dry cleaners in the area have this guys number -— as well as any other establishments whose services he may use.

Also, I hope the Chungs business will pick up as a result of this.

[Shots]

Good me thinks this judge just made it to the poor house for good. I think New York has loser pays for many cases and I think this one would certainly qualify, but I could be wrong

[Old Student]

I hope this “judge” has to iron his own clothing for the rest of his life. And cover the lawyer’s fees for his victims, as well. PAYBACKS!

[Alex Murphy]

Biblically he should have the same punishment on himself that he sought for his victims, poverty and out of business.

"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor" comes with real-world sanctions, folks. Think of the frivolous lawsuits this would eliminate!

[DungeonMaster]

"Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor" comes with real-world sanctions, folks. Think of the frivolous lawsuits this would eliminate!

It would be wonderful. We disregard God's advice about justice at our peril.

[Ghost of Philip Marlowe]

No, we don’t need tort reform.

Not at all.

Frivolous lawsuits are one of the favorite tactics Leftists employ to take money from one source (usually a business or wealthy entity) and redistributing. It’s a branch of Socialism.

Of course, they do a good job of keeping a lid on how much of each lawsuit they redistribute to themselves (thereby capitalizing on the system). This is another favorite tactic of Leftists/Socialists: using the system and tactics they can claim are altruistic to fill their pockets with cash.

[Mr. K]

That has a specific name- it is called “Loser Pays” and all attorneys are against it, because it would drastically cut down on lawsuits.

This type of travesty is prevalant in all courts now.

For example, there is nothing fair and just in divorce courts anymore- it is just two lawyers fighting until the money is gone.

The only place it is missing it Tax Court where the government sues you until your money is gone, and you are guilty until proven innocent.

[Renfield]

Does anyone have a picture of this judge?

[Renfield]

Never mind, I found one:

[antiRepublicrat]

I found some information from reading the order and findings of fact. The actual order reads:

That plaintiff Roy L. Pearson, Jr. takes nothing from the defendants, and defendants Soo Chung, Jin Nam Chung and Ki Y. Chung are awarded the costs of this action against the plaintiff Roy L. Pearson, Jr.

That doesn't include attorney's fees because later:

The issue of the defendants' claim for attorney's fees against the plaintiff will be addressed after the defendant's motions for sanctions and for attorney's fees have been filed and briefed by the parties.

Attorney's fees are likely coming, as well as sanctions against the plaintiff, and no extra suit will be required. Justice! He was just trying to capitalize on a minor dry cleaner mix-up at a time when he was very hard-up for cash, and he deserves to get nailed for it.

[GovernmentShrinker]

The trial judge should have put a stop to this abuse of the court system on day one, and ordered Pearson to undergo a psychiatric exam and comply with treatment recommendations, or be charged with contempt of court. The guy is clearly off the deep end, and shouldn’t have been allowed to tie up the court and ruin the lives of these innocent hard-working dry cleaners.

[Inspectorette]

Heard somewhere that Pearson was representing himself and charging $400/hour for his own legal fees.

[steamroller]

disbarred?-hildebeast would nominate him for the federal bench!

[sweetcynic]

I read somewhere else that this loon judge might be disbarred. If he’s unemployed, the Chungs may be unable to recover two years of attorney’s fees even if they are awarded to them....

[sweetcynic]

That said, having a case ruled by him would be automatic grounds for appeal, IMHO...

[ears_to_hear]

I agree, it seems he put flyers in the area about how bad their service was.That cost them business.
He will have to pay half their legal costs but this still uses up $50.000 of their hard earned money.

He is a jerk and should pay it all

[SunkenCiv]

“Pearson, an administrative law judge, originally sought $67 million from the Chungs, claiming they lost a pair of suit trousers and later tried to give him a pair that he said was not his. He arrived at the amount by adding up years of alleged law violations and almost $2 million in common law claims.”

Well, I feel a *lot* better now about the justice system.