Who should prevail in the dry cleaning case?

Two years ago (attorney Roy) Pearson walked into Custom Cleaners, a Northeast D.C. establishment owned by Jin Chung, Soo Chung and Ki Chung. He laid down $10.50 to have a pair of pants altered. The results dissatisfied him: The job wasn't finished on time, and he says the pants he was given were someone else's, which the Chungs deny. He demanded $1,150 for a new suit; the Chungs demurred. So it was off to court - the Chungs offered $12,000.00 - turned down - Mr. Pearson claimed he needed to be paid for 10 years' worth of weekend car rentals so that he could patronize a different dry cleaner. He wanted $500,000 for emotional distress and--though representing himself--$542,000 in legal fees - Best of all, he claimed that the signs on display at Custom Cleaners, 'Satisfaction Guaranteed' and 'Same Day Service,' were fraudulent, entitling him to damages of $1,500 each per day under D.C. consumer law. He multiplied 12 violations by three defendants by 1,200 days, and soon was up over $65 million (later cut to a mere $54 million) - who should prevail in this case ?

And people wonder why everyone hates lawyers.

Obviously a nuisance lawsuit. Hopefully the judge hearing this suit will tear Mr. Pearson a new one and hit him with triple court costs for abusing the tort system so badly.

I'm on pretty good terms with a few lawyers locally, and have had the honor of working with some great ones over the years.

This is the kind of story that gives the profession a bad name. Sure, the guy deserves some new pants & potentially some damages b/c of their terrible service. However, this goes way beyond the concept of 'justice'.

I think he just wants money they should only pay
for the pants. he needs to stop trying to get rich off if people
and just move on

6/25/07

VERDICT IN: Attorney Pearson Loses..gets nothing..must pay the Chung's court expenses.

10/31/07

Roy L. Pearson, Jr., an administrative law judge, lost the civil suit against Custom Cleaners on June 25. During the court battle, Pearson’s term as a judge was expiring and he was up for a new position in the Office of Administrative Hearings that came with a $100,000 pay raise - But a judicial committee voted against appointing him to the job.

Despite winning, Custom Cleaners proprietors Soo Chung and husband, Jin Nam Chung, incurred over $100,000 in legal fees, which were paid with help from local fundraisers and donations. But after losing customers and revenue, they were forced to close the business.