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[levious]

the Dry Cleaner's attorneys won... 10 or 20 thousand for case that surely took little real effort.

 

[ToxicAdam]

Why didn't the dry cleaners counter sue to make this guy pay for litigation costs?

 

[suaveric]

Why didn't the dry cleaners counter sue to make this guy pay for litigation costs?

the judge ruled that the guy did have to pay for the dry cleaner's lawyers.

 

[levious]

the judge ruled that the guy did have to pay for the dry cleaner's lawyers.

they ruled that he had to pay court costs, which are separate from attorney's fees... attorney's fees will be decided in an upcoming motion/ruling.

 

[npm0925]

Why didn't the dry cleaners counter sue to make this guy pay for litigation costs?

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

 

[fallengorn]

they ruled that he had to pay court costs, which are separate from attorney's fees... attorney's fees will be decided in an upcoming motion/ruling.

I hope he ends up having to pay for attorney's fees as well. What a waste of everyone's time.

 

[Synbios459]

I really don't understand why there isn't some kind of safe guard for something like this. You shouldn't be able to sue someone for anything. I dunno, make it where a person who wants to sue someone for something has to get it approved by 3 or 4 Judges or something. And the person that sues should always have to pay for all fees.

 

[Loki]

I really don't understand why there isn't some kind of safe guard for something like this.

ATLA

 

[Like the hat?]

hooray

now the drycleaners should sue him for mental anguish

 

[ShOcKwAvE]

Why do some people have no common sense? Nothing is reasonable about $60 million for pants.

 

[Meier]

http://money.cnn.com/2007/06/25/news/funny/lawsuit_pants/

Link that doesn't require registration for those who wish to share.

 

[Forgotten Ancient]

thank god. If the lawyer won this case...

 

[SabinFigaro]

If this jackass lawyer would have won, I would have lost all faith in humanity.

 

[FightyF]

Pathetic. I deal with lawyers on a daily basis and on occasion you'll encounter one who has a holier than thou attitude, but for the most part they seem like good people. It only takes 1 to ruin the rep of others, and guys like this do it.

Nope, it's all of them, it must be their lawyerly teachings.[/some posters here, won't name names]

I hope he has to pay for attorney fees as well as some compensation. I mean, it must be pretty taxing. Lots of sleepless nights when worrying about being sued for every last penny you've earned in your lifetime.

 

[bionic77]

I guess the common man can't get justice in this country anymore.

 

[GDJustin]

double post.

 

[GDJustin]

Excuse my (potential) ignorance, but wasn't it discovered that this lawyer has actually fought for years and years AGANIST frivilous lawsuits like this, and he filed this one to help riase awareness regarding how big of a problem it's become in this country?

 

[GhaleonEB]

http://money.cnn.com/2007/06/25/news/funny/lawsuit_pants/

Link that doesn't require registration for those who wish to share.

Thanks for that.

Their attorney, Chris Manning, said his clients "are relieved that we are past this stage. Judge Bartnoff has spoken loudly in suggesting that, while consumers should be protected, abusive lawsuits like this will not be tolerated. Judge Bartnoff has chosen common sense and reasonableness over irrationality and unbridled venom."

He added: "Hopefully Mr. Pearson doesn't take this any further on appeal, but we expect him to."

During the two-day trial, Soo Chung said that "economically, emotionally and healthwise as well, it has been extremely hard for us." She started the business with her husband after they moved to the United States from South Korea in 1992.

I can only imagine. What an utterly shitty ordeal for anyone to go through.

 

[fallengorn]

Excuse my (potential) ignorance, but wasn't it discovered that this lawyer has actually fought for years and years AGANIST frivilous lawsuits like this, and he filed this one to help riase awareness regarding how big of a problem it's become in this country?

That makes no sense. So he ends up burdening the courts with a frivolous lawsuit of his own, have total strangers spend tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees, just to point out the well known fact that people exploit our legal system to try and get rich?

 

[leroy hacker]

Excuse my (potential) ignorance, but wasn't it discovered that this lawyer has actually fought for years and years AGANIST frivilous lawsuits like this, and he filed this one to help riase awareness regarding how big of a problem it's become in this country?

Wasn't that made up by someone on neogaf?

AFAIK his stands on frivolous lawsuits only came up in this case because he wanted to say approximately "I am against frivolous lawsuits-I would not be filing if this if I thought it were frivolous." Anyway, this would be a pretty terrible way to prove the evils of frivolous lawsuits since the dry cleaners have had to spend tons of money on lawyers because of this. It's like proving that guns are dangerous by shooting an innocent person.

 

[bionic77]

Frivilous lawsuits are a myth. Like evolution and chastity.

 

[pel1300]

the ****er deserves to go to prison

 

[Greenpanda]

During the two-day trial, Soo Chung said that "economically, emotionally and healthwise as well, it has been extremely hard for us."

Sounds like grounds for a lawsuit!

 

[gconsole]

Just go back to korea. You have 100 times better internet connection in your home country.

 

[Synbios459]

I wonder: Is it as easy to sue people over such ridiculous things in country's like Korea and Japan?

 

[gconsole]

I wonder: Is it as easy to sue people over such ridiculous things in country's like Korea and Japan?

Believe me. This kind of case never been happened in any country beside US.

 

[bjork]

Just go back to korea. You have 100 times better internet connection in your home country.

:lol classic

 

[rollingstart]

Just go back to korea. You have 100 times better internet connection in your home country.

its cheaper also!

 

[megateto]

Believe me. This kind of case never been happened in any country beside US.

What he said. In fact, this kind of stuff makes it into our newspapers as comedy material. Our as in Spain.

 

[Ripclawe]

The man has mental problems.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/rawfisher/2007/07/the_54_million_pants_suit_that.html#comments

The $54 Million Pants Suit That Wouldn't Die

He's baaaa-ack: Roy Pearson, the D.C. administrative law judge who filed, fought and lost a $54 million lawsuit against the Korean immigrants who own his neighborhood dry cleaners, chose the Fourth of July holiday to make it clear that he will not be going away.

Despite a clear finding by D.C. Superior Court Judge Judith Bartnoff that Pearson's case against Custom Cleaners had no merit and that the cleaners' possible misplacing of a pair of Pearson's pants was not worth a penny to the plaintiff, Pearson is back. He wrote to defense lawyer Christopher Manning this week to let the Chung family know that Pearson plans to file today a motion arguing that Bartnoff failed to address Pearson's legal claims and asking the judge to reverse her verdict in the case.

Manning, who has said that the Chungs have already been wiped out financially by the need to defend themselves against Pearson's two-year legal jihad, responded to Pearson by asking that he end the misery for the Chungs, who face legal bills of more than $100,000. Manning asked Pearson to consider moving on, for the Chungs' sake and for his own.

But Pearson was unimpressed and responded to Manning that he will continue to fight in the best interests of all Washington residents. Pearson apparently continues to believe that his crusade to get rich off an immigrant family's small business would somehow better the lives of all D.C. residents.

Pearson is still putting in lots of hours pursuing the case--one of his emails to Manning was time-stamped at 4:05 a.m.

Meanwhile, Manning is pursuing his request for the court to require Pearson to pay for the Chungs' attorney's fees. Hundreds of readers have already donated to a legal defense fund for the Chungs (www.customcleanersdefensefund.com) and now there's also going to be a July 24 fundraiser for the family, sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the American Tort Reform Association. Details at www.chungfundraiser.com

And to complete the pants update, there's still no action from the panel that will determine whether Pearson is to be reappointed for a full, 10-year term as an administrative law judge. At Mayor Adrian Fenty's request, the panel put off consideration of Pearson's case until the mayor had a chance to fill a vacancy on the commission on the tenure of ALJs. Now that Fenty has made that appointment, the panel is apparently waiting for Bartnoff's decision on the attorney's fees aspect of the pants case, which could be some weeks away.

 

[ToxicAdam]

Wow, what a circus. Why hasn't this man been disbarred yet? Maybe they are afraid of the litigation that would follow. :lol

 

[Femmeworth]

That's good that there is a fundraiser for them.

 

[Big-E]

That douche should have to pay all of the lawyer fees for the cleaners.

 

[Oldschoolgamer]

This thread is hilarious. :lol

That guy is a real tool.

 

[Dan]

Meanwhile, Manning is pursuing his request for the court to require Pearson to pay for the Chungs' attorney's fees. Hundreds of readers have already donated to a legal defense fund for the Chungs (www.customcleanersdefensefund.com) and now there's also going to be a July 24 fundraiser for the family, sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the American Tort Reform Association. Details at www.chungfundraiser.com

a) Well, that's one of very few good things the U.S. Chamber of Commerce should be applauded for.

b) What happens to those donations if the judge does order Pearson to pay the lawyer fees?

 

[Freshmaker]

Excuse my (potential) ignorance, but wasn't it discovered that this lawyer has actually fought for years and years AGANIST frivilous lawsuits like this, and he filed this one to help riase awareness regarding how big of a problem it's become in this country?

No, he's just stupid like Bork.

 

[speedpop]

I bet this prick has the type of face you just want to knock the **** out.

 

[Eric P]

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/rawfisher/?nav=rss_email/components

Posted at 01:31 PM ET, 08/ 2/2007
First, Pants Man Loses Case. Next, His Job.

By the middle of next week, Roy Pearson, the D.C. administrative law judge who sued his neighborhood dry cleaners for $54 million and lost, will receive a letter that starts the process of putting him out of a job.

City sources tell me that a marathon meeting of the commission that reviews the performance of administrative law judges (ALJs) ended last night with unanimous agreement to meet again next Monday to revise and finalize the wording of a letter that will state the panel's doubts about granting Pearson the 10-year reappointment that he has been seeking throughout the last months of his battle against Custom Cleaners and its owners, the Chung family.

The panel had expected to complete work on the Pearson case last night, but discussions were complicated by a series of conflicting recommendations to the Commission on Selection and Tenure of ALJs by the chief ALJ, Tyrone Butler. In rapid succession this spring, Butler told the commission that "I do not oppose" Pearson's reappointment, that "I recommend reappointment," and that "I do not recommend" reappointment, according to sources who have seen the letters.

The first switcheroo came as a result of the commission notifying Butler that he had not complied with the law that requires the chief judge to submit a yes or no recommendation to the commission that decides whether judges' performance merits an extension of their time on the bench. ALJs sit on cases involving disputes between city agencies and between citizens and those agencies.

But after Butler came back with a pro-Pearson letter, Pearson sent a series of emails within the ALJ staff disparaging the chief judge, calling him "evil" and mean-spirited. That helped sway Butler to switch yet again, to a recommendation against reappointment.

Within the commission, the discussion about Pearson's future has focused on when and whether it is right to measure a judge's performance by his behavior outside the courtroom. The panel looked specifically at whether Pearson's extraordinary zeal in pursuing the case against the Chungs was so frivolous and embarrassing to the judicial system that it should be taken as evidence of his lack of judicial temperment. "A judge has a right to bring a lawsuit like any other citizen," said a source close to the commission, "but he doesn't have a First Amendment right to bring a frivolous lawsuit."

The commission is expected to address the Chung case specifically in its letter to Pearson, pointing out that his no-holds-barred pursuit of mega-millions in a case stemming from a $10.50 alteration on a pair of suit pants raises serious questions about his judicial temperment and raises public questions about judicial ethics and standards. Following receipt of the letter, Pearson would then have the right to a hearing before the commission. Only after that hearing would the commission formally move to end Pearson's tenure as a judge. Pearson has not been sitting as a judge since the end of April, when his first term on the bench expired. Rather, he is now technically considered an "attorney advisor" to the Office of Administrative Hearings. Asked what Pearson does in that position, a high-ranking city official said, "Zippo."

Separately, Pearson is preparing an appeal of Judge Judith Bartnoff's rejection of his case against the Chungs.

Meanwhile, at a fundraiser for the Chungs last week, donors contributed more than $62,000 toward the legal fees the family incurred in their defense against the Pearson suit. Another $30,000-plus came in from Post readers and others who made contributions to a defense fund around the time of the trial in June. The total comes close to covering the Chung's bills for the first round of the case, but Pearson's push to appeal the ruling will mean further legal fees for the immigrant family.

The commission's chairman, D.C. Superior Court Judge Robert Rigsby, declined to comment on the specifics of Pearson's case, saying only that "We met for several hours last night and discussed the vacancies and the reappointments of 11 ALJs. We worked well into the night and will do so again on Monday." He said the commission will finish its work on Pearson and the other ALJs up for new terms on Monday night.

As satisfying as it would be to see Pearson lose his post over his obsessive pursuit of the Chungs, the downside for the owners of the dry cleaners is that with Pearson out of a job, their chances of ever recovering the court fees that Pearson has already been assessed and the attorney's fees that he may yet be ordered to pay would be severely diminished.

As has happened at every stage of this sorry case, it is possible to win the legal battle while still being destroyed by the process.

 

[GaimeGuy]

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/rawfisher/?nav=rss_email/components

Separately, Pearson is preparing an appeal of Judge Judith Bartnoff's rejection of his case against the Chungs.

Meanwhile, at a fundraiser for the Chungs last week, donors contributed more than $62,000 toward the legal fees the family incurred in their defense against the Pearson suit. Another $30,000-plus came in from Post readers and others who made contributions to a defense fund around the time of the trial in June. The total comes close to covering the Chung's bills for the first round of the case, but Pearson's push to appeal the ruling will mean further legal fees for the immigrant family.

The commission's chairman, D.C. Superior Court Judge Robert Rigsby, declined to comment on the specifics of Pearson's case, saying only that "We met for several hours last night and discussed the vacancies and the reappointments of 11 ALJs. We worked well into the night and will do so again on Monday." He said the commission will finish its work on Pearson and the other ALJs up for new terms on Monday night.

As satisfying as it would be to see Pearson lose his post over his obsessive pursuit of the Chungs, the downside for the owners of the dry cleaners is that with Pearson out of a job, their chances of ever recovering the court fees that Pearson has already been assessed and the attorney's fees that he may yet be ordered to pay would be severely diminished.

As has happened at every stage of this sorry case, it is possible to win the legal battle while still being destroyed by the process.

Urgh...

 

[Great Rumbler]

Dry Cleaning-Age: My pants are missing!! (woah lawsuit backfire)

 

[KevinRo]

I can almost guarantee in History books when they talk about frivolous lawsuits this alongside many McDonalds cases will be remembered forever.

 

[levious]

when they talk about frivolous lawsuits this alongside many McDonalds cases will be remembered forever.

which would those be? Hope you're not talking about the coffee one, I think everyone's tired of explaining that one.

 

[pel1300]

hope he loses his job.

 

[PleoMax]

Lol America is funny

I can't imagine this shit happening anywhere else.

 

[BigGreenMat]

Separately, Pearson is preparing an appeal of Judge Judith Bartnoff's rejection of his case against the Chungs.

Meanwhile, at a fundraiser for the Chungs last week, donors contributed more than $62,000 toward the legal fees the family incurred in their defense against the Pearson suit. Another $30,000-plus came in from Post readers and others who made contributions to a defense fund around the time of the trial in June. The total comes close to covering the Chung's bills for the first round of the case, but Pearson's push to appeal the ruling will mean further legal fees for the immigrant family.

The commission's chairman, D.C. Superior Court Judge Robert Rigsby, declined to comment on the specifics of Pearson's case, saying only that "We met for several hours last night and discussed the vacancies and the reappointments of 11 ALJs. We worked well into the night and will do so again on Monday." He said the commission will finish its work on Pearson and the other ALJs up for new terms on Monday night.

As satisfying as it would be to see Pearson lose his post over his obsessive pursuit of the Chungs, the downside for the owners of the dry cleaners is that with Pearson out of a job, their chances of ever recovering the court fees that Pearson has already been assessed and the attorney's fees that he may yet be ordered to pay would be severely diminished.

As has happened at every stage of this sorry case, it is possible to win the legal battle while still being destroyed by the process.

Wait so you are telling me that it cost more than 90,000 in fees for this suit? HOW?!?! It is ridiculous that a simple lawsuit should cost that much to litigate.

 

[Ripclawe]

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/rawfisher/?hpid=topnews

doh! my bad

 

[Dan]

You realize your post is the same as one made 10 hours ago... right?

 

[Tyrannical]

If this wasn't D.C., and Pearson wasn't black I don't think his reapointment would even be under discussion still. Maybe Pearson could try a "bitch set me up" defence.

 

[psycho_snake]

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,"

Poor guy. Just imagine what he must have gone trhough when he lost his $10 trousers.

There is something very very wrong with the law when someone can sue a dry cleaners over a lost pair of $10 trousers for $65 million dollars. Getting sued for it is bad enough, but getting sued for $65 million is ridiculous.

 

[mckmas8808]

If this wasn't D.C., and Pearson wasn't black I don't think his reapointment would even be under discussion still. Maybe Pearson could try a "bitch set me up" defence.

So are you saying if he was white they would just tell this a hole to shutup?