Former judge from ‘pants suit’ sues for $1 million, old job back

May 6, 2008 3:00 AM
by Scott McCabe, The Examiner

WASHINGTON - The former D.C. judge who was fired after becoming a symbol of runaway litigation for suing over lost pants has claimed he suffered “humiliation” and “physical illness” in a new lawsuit seeking reinstatement and at least $1 million in damages.

In a 52-page lawsuit filed in the D.C. federal court, Roy Pearson claimed that the District and a city judicial commission wrongfully dismissed him for exposing corruption within the Office of Administrative Hearings, the department where he worked.
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The wrongful actions caused “physical illness, damage to his career and loss of employment, humiliation, damage to his reputation, economic damages and severe emotional distress.”
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During the dry-cleaner trial, Pearson broke down on the stand when he tried to describe how he learned that he’d never see his pants again. The judge ruled in favor of the dry cleaners.

Despite Court Victory In $54 Million Lawsuit, DC Dry Cleaners Closes Its Doors

WASHINGTON, Sept. 19, 2007

(AP) The owners of a dry cleaner who were sued for $54 million over a missing pair of pants have closed shop and sold the business, their attorney said Wednesday.
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Soo Chung and her husband Jin Nam Chung spent more than two years in litigation after a former customer at Custom Cleaners alleged they had lost a pair of his pants, then sued for $67 million under the District of Columbia's strict consumer protection act.

Plaintiff Roy L. Pearson, a local administrative law judge, later lowered his demand to $54 million. He said the "Satisfaction Guaranteed" and "Same Day Service" signs that once hung in the shop were misleading and fraudulent.
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The Chungs have now closed two of their three businesses since the lawsuit began, Manning said. The couple will devote their energy to their remaining business, Happy Cleaners in Northwest Washington.