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?