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[Loki]

Why isn't there any system established, that you can only sue for an appropriate amount of money, like in other countries.

ATLA

 

[Ripclawe]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/12/18/pants.lawsuit/index.html

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- A court Thursday rejected an appeal filed by a former administrative law judge who sued a dry cleaners for $54 million over a missing pair of pants.

The District of Columbia Court of Appeals "ruled resoundingly in favor of the Chung family and denied Mr. Roy Pearson's appeal of the case completely," said Christopher Manning, an attorney for the Chung family, who own Custom Cleaners.

"The D.C. Court of Appeals held that the trial court correctly ruled that Mr. Pearson's claims had no merit whatsoever," he added.

The Chungs have "some level of relief," Manning told CNN, "but they won't count Mr. Pearson out for at least trying to torment them further" with future appeals.

"We are very happy with the result and thank everyone for supporting us," Jin Chung said in a statement issued by Manning. "The past three years have been very difficult, but we hope this nightmare is finally over."

Pearson initially sought $67 million from the Chungs, calculating the amount by estimating years of legal violations, adding nearly $2 million in common law claims for fraud.

The saga began in May 2005, when Pearson took several pairs of pants to Custom Cleaners for alteration as he prepared to start his new job as an administrative law judge. He alleged that among them was a pair of pants from a blue and maroon suit. When he came to collect his clothing, he said, the Chungs tried to give him a pair of charcoal gray pants that were not his.

During a two-day trial, Pearson, who represented himself, said that when he took the pants to the cleaners, his financial situation was precarious: He had just been ordered to pay $12,000 in attorney's fees to his ex-wife, and his credit cards were at their limit.

He claimed millions of dollars in attorney fees and millions more in punitive damages for what he called fraudulent advertising under the law. He also claimed that a sign in the store's window promising "satisfaction guaranteed" was an unconditional warranty that required the defendants to honor any claim by any customer without limitation.

The Chungs' attorney argued that no reasonable person would interpret the signs to mean an unconditional promise of satisfaction. District of Columbia Superior Court Judge Judith Bartnoff agreed, ruling that Custom Cleaners did not violate the city's Consumer Protection Act.

Manning, whose law firm handled the appeal on a pro bono basis for the Chungs, said the Chungs hope the "vague and often unfair" act will be changed "so that others do not suffer like they did."

In August 2007, the Chungs dropped their bid to recover legal costs in the hopes that Pearson would drop his appeal.

Pearson may request that the appeal be heard again by the entire panel of D.C. Court of Appeals judges, Manning said. He also could petition to the U.S. Supreme Court for an appeal.

"It is the Chungs' hope that Mr. Pearson will not attempt to appeal any further and will end his frivolous and baseless attacks on the Chung family," Manning wrote in the statement.

"The 3½ years this case has been pending and appealed have been very difficult for the Chungs," he said. "They lost two of their dry cleaning stores and their realization of the American dream."

He said the family wants to "quietly return to their one remaining small dry-cleaning store ... to rebuild their lives."

Pearson was taken off the bench in May 2007 while the lawsuit was pending and was not reappointed as an administrative law judge when his term expired.

He filed a federal lawsuit in May 2008 to get his government job back, accusing city government and others of an "unlawful demotion and subsequent termination." That suit remains pending.

 

[agrajag]

This guy is the definition of the word cockbag.

 

[Tubobutts]

It sucks that they lost two of their stores, but at least that douche-hole didn't win.

 

[Keylime]

http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/12/18/pants.lawsuit/index.html

Should have just gave the dude his pants back before shit escalated.

Their own faults for putting up "Satisfaction Guaranteed" when clearly this was never their intent.

Hell, if I was their lawyer they could get 67 mil for mental anguish alone. Having to represent yourself and appeal so many times is mentally rough for anyone, especially someone who is missing their favorite pair of pants.

Hopefully the 67 million could be used to pay for years of therapy from the best doctors (as that is what would be needed) and a new pair of BLUE pants....not CHARCOAL GREY pants...

 

[Like the hat?]

 

[tri_willy]

a case of someone trying to abuse their power only to get fucked both ways in the end. justice has been served, except for the family who had to lose 2 stores to meet their court costs

 

[agrajag]

Who the fuck wears blue pants? Is this guy is Lionel Hutz.

 

[ice cream]

Stuff like this makes me really pissed and scared to move to the USA (if I ever was to).. It's such a sue-happy country... Really pisses me off.

 

[Terrell]

WOW... the GAF Lawyer Defense Force trying to justify one of their own RUINING PEOPLE'S LIVES OVER A PAIR OF PANTS... but then again, I expect no less from lawyers, especially when money is involved.
Lawyers? Any of you listening? THIS is why people don't trust you, THIS is why people don't respect you, THIS is why people wish you dead. Crucify this man and regain public trust. Let him continue and you're part of the problem. Simple.
But at least Ripclawe gives us good news that his appeal was rejected and the guy lost his cushy job over it.

 

[sangreal]

Should have just gave the dude his pants back before shit escalated.

Their own faults for putting up "Satisfaction Guaranteed" when clearly this was never their intent.

Hell, if I was their lawyer they could get 67 mil for mental anguish alone. Having to represent yourself and appeal so many times is mentally rough for anyone, especially someone who is missing their favorite pair of pants.

Hopefully the 67 million could be used to pay for years of therapy from the best doctors (as that is what would be needed) and a new pair of BLUE pants....not CHARCOAL GREY pants...

They did give his pants back. He claims they are lying and gave them the wrong pants

WOW... the GAF Lawyer Defense Force trying to justify one of their own RUINING PEOPLE'S LIVES OVER A PAIR OF PANTS... but then again, I expect no less from lawyers, especially when money is involved.

What? where?

 

[Terrell]

What? where?

Check the first page of this thread onward.

 

[Christine]

As reprehensible as I find this guy's actions, I can't help but pity him a little. He's got nothing better or more important in his life than tilting at this windmill. Of course, this doesn't even begin to excuse the harm he's done to others - my sympathy lies with the dry cleaner.

 

[sangreal]

Check the first page of this thread onward.

oh my bad, I skipped to the update article