April 13, 2007
D.C. Judge Seeks $67 Million for Lost Pants
How does one quantify enjoyment gained from the perfect pair of pants? A flattering fit, oh-so-crisp lines or fine-woven fabrics might make trousers priceless to their owner. Roy L. Pearson, Jr., who just happens to be an administrative law judge for the District, doesn't have a problem putting a price on such clothes. He believes his pants are worth $67 million.
Pearson alleges Custom Cleaners in Northeast lost his trousers back in 2005. He filed a lawsuit seeking damages and claiming the city's consumer protection laws were violated. The cleaners said they gave the him the proper pants, but offered the judge a $12,000 settlement anyway. He refused and pressed on with the case, which Chris Manning, attorney for Custom Cleaners, calls, "possibly the most amazing example of frivolous and ridiculous litigation."
A glance at Judge Pearson's bio reveals no clues to whether he's crazy enough to think a jury would award him such a hefty sum. For almost 25 years he worked with an organization that provides, "civil legal assistance to indigent residents of the District of Columbia," -- surely a worthy cause. We'll have to wait until June, when the complaint is scheduled to appear in court, and see if the case leads to a windfall for victims of sartorial mistaken identity everywhere.
Photo by Flickr user terecico.
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Sounds like a possible ethics breach for an ALJ to file this.
If I were the opposing counsel, I would have everyone wear shorts at trail.
This struck me as amusing:
"A glance at Judge Pearson's bio reveals no clues to whether he's crazy enough to think a jury would award him such a hefty sum. ..."
You mean, aside from the fact that he's requesting $67 million in damages for lost pants?
I dunno. I figure that's enough for me to know someone's a little, y'know... off.
$67 million huh? Cleaners lost my shirt last year and all I got was a $50 credit, I need to sharpen my bargaining skills. With all the times the cleaners have lost or damaged my clothing I could have retired to the south of france years ago.
What pair of pants deserves a $12,000 settlement offer?
For that kind of money, there'd better be a Rolex in the pocket and a hooker in each leg.
>For that kind of money, there'd better be a Rolex in the pocket and a hooker in each leg.
Ha-ha, you make me laugh, joelogon!
Let us have friends together!
Looks like he did similar thing at his divorce case:
"The trial court found that husband [Roy Pearson] was substantially responsible for 'excessive driving up' of the legal costs by 'threatening both wife and her lawyer with disbarment [sic],' and creating unnecessary litigation."
See www.courts.state.va.us/opinions/opncavwp/0561044.pdf
Judge Pearson -- and others like him -- give the legal profession a bad name.
I don't even have to find a bio or photo, this sounds like affirmative action, in action...
judge pearson i am amazed that you have file this law suit, I know person how these people opperate, i work for a asia cleaner and they have it bad doing this to people. i open the only black own beauty supply store in longview texas after working at there beauty suply store,they have came to my store and call me a no good N?, yes the N word, athey havealso call all the hair company and told them not to sell me hair, they have slander my name, yes i understand what you are sayiing,please call me i really need your help.903-553-1975 or
903-926-5869 hang in there
Its crazy and so is this Lawyer. He should be sued for being stupid. This is why our judical system is broken and he is a big part of it. He should be disbarred and put in a mental care facility.
It is all over the US. Just look at this one.
www.workplace-security-got-sued.com
What a shame that just when we had such high hopes for the new Fenty administration to help curb crime in the District it turns out a member of his own administration is attempting to commit the biggest theft in the history of the city with a ridiculous and frivolous $65 mil law suit against what seems to be an honest, hard working, legal immigrant. It would seem obvious that since Pearson is this much of a crook that a simple background check may be in order here…
What in the world does this have to do with Fenty? The lawsuit stems from an incident in 2005.
As an Administrative Law Judge, Pearson represents the District both professionally and personally. That’s why employers (especially gov) do periodic background checks. Would you want this nut on your payroll?
It seems to me like the pants are a symptom of a larger issue -- respect. Apparently, the judge wants to prove a point about being treated a particular way at a business he patronizes. Even more apparently, the business owners don't really care about his patronage and would rather he just go away. Personally, I think he should take the hint. You can't MAKE people respect you. You can't MAKE people sorry they disrespected you. You CAN make people hate your guts.
This is bull crap. Pearson's a damn jerk. what goes around comes around, i hope the Chung's family counter sue his ass for 100 million dollars.
makes me ashamed to be an american
As of May 2, 2007, he's no longer working for the DC government. A call to the mayor's call center 202-727.1000 confirms this.
I read in another story that his pants were eventually found but he refuses to accept them back. The opposing counsel intends to present them to him in the courtroom.
can a local business protest against him and no service to roy pearson. there are alot of business with "satisfaction guaranteed". He can make any reason to suit any other business. someone should make a post "Most unwanted" with picture and post every business place in DC.
This guy is representing our "justice" system??? This is insane! It seems to me that this guy lost control of his temper and decided to put these poor people through hell. I doubt he cares so much about his pants as sinking their dreams and their lives in the process, knowing of the tremendous cost of a defense. I'm no legal expert, but couldn't the cleaners counter sue for the turmoil and money lost? They have been WAY MORE than fair in their offers.
I wish I were a lawyer so I could do a little pro bono work for these poor people.
No one has asked the obvious question:
Did they get the stain out?
this will make america look really good in the eyes of the world. our judges cry over pants....great
To answer The Boots:
There was NO STAIN; the pants were at the cleaners TO BE ALTERED. The pants were altered and found a week later and this numnuts was told they were found. They (the cleaners) even offered to settle, but this bonehead ALJ (who's QUITE full of himself and his little title) decided that he would show what a "formidable" African-American lawyer he was said, "No!" The "man" is extremely offensive to me on THREE fronts: 1)as a member of the legal community; 2) as an African-American, and 3)as an American. What an a**hole!!!
His pants were not found. The dry-cleaners presented Pearson a gray pair of pants, claiming to be his. But Pearson claims his pants were navy with red stripes. Wouldn't that piss someone off? First they lose the pants, second they refuse to pay for them and third they lie by claiming the cheap gray pants were his client's pants. Please, they should be put out of business.
And one more thing...they only offered to settle after being sued and finding out that the client was a judge (at their lawyer's advice). They would not have given him a dime if he didn't sue. They are not as innocent as you all might think.
I guess his head has become too big for the pants to fit.
To the Chungs: Please do not leave the country. All Americans are not as insensitive as Judge Pearson. We support you.
This guy must be kidding! Judge Pearson has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that HE is insane and should be disbarred immediately! What a creep.
LJ, you sound like this judge (or ex-judge) and you share chromosomes. Another story says the claim number on the pants match his receipt. You sound like the type of person that would pull out your concealed handgun and kill someone because you felt like they looked at you funny. If not chromosomes, you have at least something in common with the judge. You're both nuts.
I hope Oprah invites him on her show, and gives him a lecture on common courtesy...he should be
ashamed of himself, and he should be court
ordered to go to ANGER MANAGEMENT, and then
a good psychiatrist, to help him shrink his
head back to its right size, if it is not too late!!! Oprah, go get him, he needs help!
He is a disgrace to all Americans!
Pearson, Roy L Jr
3012 Pineview Ct NE
Washington, DC 20018-1617
Or leave a message on his answering machine (he doesn't answer his phone directly anymore): (202) 269-1191
Or send him an email: roypearsonjr@verizon.net
Um, isn't it pretty obvious that "LJ" is Judge Pearson? As in "Law Judge"? (Guess he dropped the "Administrative.") I mean, only this nutball himself would (A) know about the ins and outs of the case and the timing of the suit, and (B) defend the behavior of said nutball. This jerk actually thinks the Chungs should "be put out of business" for losing his pants! There couldn't be anyone else so crazy...
What a douche bag! Disbar his ass!
C'MON...67 mill for pants, who is this guy kidding!? I guess we really are in revelations, where we're seeing peoples true identity. For Mr. Pierson, it's called GREED. He has no idea how much he is hurting this innocent family.
Only in America.
I really hope that this type of litigation stays in America and is not another "great" import that we have to suffer.
Personally I thought that the offer of a replacement suit should have been chosen for him. He deserves a clown suit
I think what people are missing here is that the judge
that is suing this family is black. It is as clear as
day to me that this judge, like many blacks in this
country, harbor resentment towards hard working
Asian-Americans ("model minorities"). He is lashing out by using his power to try
to financially cripple these people.
Someone needs to speak out about the racism
Asian-Americans are subjected to on a daily basis by blacks in this
country.
I think what people are missing here is that the judge
that is suing this family is black. It is as clear as
day to me that this judge, like many blacks in this
country, harbor resentment towards hard working
Asian-Americans ("model minorities"). He is lashing out by using his power to try
to financially cripple these people.
Someone needs to speak out about the racism
Asian-Americans are subjected to on a daily basis by blacks in this
country.
They should be put out of business not for losing the pants, but for not taking responsibility for their mistake and producing all sorts of excuses, even coming up with 'fake' pants, to cover up their ass. That's why they should be put out of business. Capitalism would be a monstrous animal without these lawsuits that protect customers from being screwed by big or small businesses alike. If it were not for these lawsuits, we would all be given cow piss instead of organic milk. Sure you all pity the small Korean family business, but the principle is the same. Whether it's McDonald's or Ford or any other company that screws its customers one way or another. Make them pay and you WILL get better service and you'll not be afraid to let your precious pants to the dry cleaners ever again. Do nothing and next time you buy cereals you might find poisonous wheat gluten in it, because some dumb ass thought this is the way to make a profit.
I am a wrong person!
Um, thanks Your Honor, I mean,"LJ!" Guess you've never made a mistake in your life... Just because they lost your pants, they (as well as everyone else who benefits from their work) need to suffer, tight? You are seriously deranged if you equate a dry cleaner losing your pants with someone intentionally poisoning your cereal.
Bubb Rhubb - 'blacks harbor resentment towards hard working Asian-Americans ("model minorities")'
Are you for real? I've never heard this one before. Good to know.
LJ - 'Make them pay and you WILL get better service and you'll not be afraid to let your precious pants to the dry cleaners ever again.'
Yikes!
I worked at a dry cleaner when I was a teenager and boy did I encounter some uppity patrons. There was this one guy who was NEVER happy with the way his pants were pressed and ALWAYS requested a repress, free cleanings etc. I wondered why he didn't just go to another cleaner. Maybe it was because another locale would have been inconvenient for him but then again he could of have just sued for 10 yrs worth of rental car fees like Mr. Pearson is.
LJ - Did you finish grade school? You should know there is a difference between suing for missing pants and suing for finding poison in our cereal. Missing pants will not end your life but poison would. Your rational that the koreans should be placed out of business for missing pants tells me you didn't finish 6th grade. Ever heard of "the punishment should fit the crime?" Oh wait, you didn't go that far in school. Sorry...for you.
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.
I'm a dumb@ss, I have the education level of jr high. Please listen to my dumb@ss remarks above, it shows how much of a racist I am!
Hey I suck balls, I am the type of guy that hates on hard working people, I like to also exploit the fact they are korean. I am a piece of crap, that probably doesn't have an education higher than a GED. Please listen to my dumb@ss remarks!
thanks
I am also black, and I don't like it that these Koreans that work hard. I would rather see a black man get them for what the white people did to my race. I just have alot of hate in me, and I think I can exploit these good koreans, because it will make me feel better about myself. Thank God Ignorance is bliss. :)
Not sure why this is so difficult for some to understand...If you don't like the service...GO SOMEPLACE ELSE!! This is proof positive that tort reform is long overdue. This judicial moron is a complete waste of time and should be disbarred immediately. But that is what happens when you let dummycrats take over. DC has been mired in corruption for years.
(isn't there a comment policy to this website?)
How's the view from that glass house?
Narcissism IS a treatable condition, as long as you take responsibility for your behavior that is. I'd encourage a couple of folks here to consider what their life would be like if they were actually happy.
I think LJ is right in the sense that the Koreans involved are not innocent.
That said, the punishment doesn't fit the crime. If you don't like the service, you don't need lawyers...just don't go there. If no one goes there and the service sucks...they will go bankrupt.
This lawyer is using laws designed to help consumers get fair judgements as a tool for personal vengeance. He knows that this family doesn't have the money or insurance....but he doesn't care. He is creating litigation to force this family into bankruptcy. More litigation, more attorney fees, and lucky him...he's a lawyer so he doesn't pay the same fees.
yes, they lost his pants.
but if you do your research, you'll find they offered and offered and offered to settle out of court. i believe thier top off was around $1,200. isn't that a form of recompense that far exceeds the value of the pants? seems to me this was a generous attempt to correct the situation.
it is most unfortunate some people have elevated the greenback to their higher power. a life based on that type of fear is empty and deceiving.
Given the racial composition of the DC jury pool, he'll probably win this case and get some kind of award. My best guess, he'll walk away with $30,000. Very few things can protect you from a race-biasd jury.