Lost pants lawsuit is absurd and unethical
The nut case administrative law judge in Washington, DC, who sued a dry cleaner for $65 million for a lost pair of pants has lowered his price to $54 million. Roy L. Pearson -- who turned down an offer of $15,000 for his precious pants -- is proving the maxim that he who represents himself has a fool for a client. And he is professionally incompetent to boot.
Yes, "Judge" Pearson, I am publicly defaming you in your business or profession because you obviously have no connection with reality, justice or professional competence. Come on down to Georgia and sue me for $65 million. Heck, make it $650 million or $65 billion. Why hold back?
Perhaps he is representing himself because no sane, ethical lawyer would have anything to do with this travesty. Perhaps he cried in court because of some glimmer of recognition that he has made a complete fool of himself.
Once a dry cleaner in my neighborhood ruined a pair of my suit pants. Did I sue the dry cleaner? No, I just changed dry cleaners. One of my lawyer friends in Atlanta mentioned this week that a dry cleaner once lost over 20 pairs of pants he was having altered after losing a lot of weight. He wrote it off.
Anyway, the whole nation hopes the judge who heard the case will sock "Judge" Pearson with all available sanctions for this travesty.
The sad thing is that this idiot is not just abusing the Korean immigrant dry cleaners and making a fool of himself. Worse, he is holding the whole legal system up to public ridicule, doing untold harm to countless people who have real problems, real injuries, real damages. Predictably, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce lobbyists are blaming trial lawyers (and the people with serious cases that we represent) for "Judge Pearson's" idiocy.
Never mind that the CEO of the American Association for Justice (formerly Association of Trial Lawyers of America) filed an ethics complaint with the DC Bar against Judge Pearson. Never mind that the case is an aberration, that "Judge" Pearson is not a trial lawyer but former legal aid lawyer promoted to a local administrative law judge in DC who has never spent a day in private law practice, or that his claim is based on an absurd interpretation of some obscure local law in DC rather than tort law. Real lawyers are constrained by common sense and economic reality, none of which appear present in "Judge" Pearson's conduct.
Now every time we strike a jury in a case of wrongful death or serious physical injury, we will have to deal with juror perceptions not only of the McDonald's hot coffee case (which at least involved a significant burn injury) but also the "lost pants" case. I wonder how many thousands of people will be indirectly harmed by this moron's stupidity.
The Shigley Law Firm represents plaintiffs in wrongful death and catastrophic injury cases statewide in Georgia, and in other states subject to the multijurisdictional practice and pro hac vice rules in each state. Ken Shigley was designated as a "SuperLawyer" in Atlanta Magazine and one of the "Legal Elite" in Georgia Trend Magazine. He is a Certified Civil Trial Advocate of the National Board of Trial Advocacy, Chair of the Southeastern Motor Carrier Liability Institute and former chair of the Georgia Insurance Law Institute. He particularly focuses on cases arising from truck wrecks and accidents (tractor trailers truck wrecks, semi truck wrecks,18 wheeler truck wrecks, big rig truck wrecks, log truck wrecks, dump truck wrecks.
Would it help to write the judge hearing that case? Telling her that he is an idiot and wasting taxpayers' money? As for the dry cleaners, what a heck of a way to sour the American Dream and damage international relations at the same time.
While I'm not thrilled about the amount of alleged damages claim - i.e. $65 Million, including transportation, etc. - I don't think the fact that he's a judge - so long as he doesn't use that fact to intimidate [of which there is no evidence he has] - should preclude him from the right to sue and or to be compensated for losses. He's an Admin. Law Judge who earns $100K/yr.
So those who, and the articles that, mention his being a judge as somehow relevant (maybe it's worthy of a footnote) are missing the mark, so to speak. Furthermore, it seems all the press are portraying the owners as these 'poor' [either literally or figuratively] sympathetic immigrant couple who has been totally wronged. But my experience [both personal and professional] with business owners - be it Best Buy or the cleaners down the street - is that they will wrong you when they can.
In all likelihood - based on the summaries/stories I've read - they did lose the clothes, failed to take responsibility and generally gave him a hard time. So why all the sympathy for them and not him? They probably earn more than him, and it doesn't sound like they stepped up to the plate to accept responsibility for the loss; at least not until they were sued.
Futhermore, I also know how frustrating it is to see and rely upon signs that promise certain things - e.g. customer satisfaction - only to find they are false promises. If you're going to guarantee something, you better be ready to stand behind it or expect to be called on it if and when push comes to shove.
ALG, Esq.
I would like to add two cents and then I will lurk. First of all, he was offered compensation for the pants. He REFUSED.
Several times. They offered him up to 15 grand, I think, for the silly trousers.
He still refused. A pair of pants is not the same as a family member or a pet.
What he has lost is a sense of proportion in relation to the 'crime.'
He used an obscure DC law that he claims entitles him to 1500 a day regarding customer satisfaction. Well, he has chosen to NOT be satisfied and for pure
cussedness is going to make their lives a living hell.
I have read stories and summaries too. I have also worked with Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese and Chinese business owners. They want to stay in business.
They will do whatever it takes to make a customer happy. Clothing is easily replaced. The plaintiff needs to take a chill pill.
I couldn't have said it better myself. I hope the trial judge not only finds in favor or the defendents, but she orders this moron to pay their legal fees as well.
Responding to ALG ESQ, the fact Pearson is a sitting judge is very relevent to to this case because, somewhat like you, he hypothesizes that "they will get you if they can" neurosis. Your very ability to post an opinion for all to see is the result of many businesses risk, creativeness, perseverance, and errors to develop the technology you now scam money from via malicious lawsuits. The tone of your post is disgusting and offensive to the average schmuck like me.
Bill
Even from Australia I feel a sense of frustration and anger at the actions of this moron. It smacks to me, as well, of a certain racism - a small minded attempt to damage a recent immigrant to his turf.
