A former judge who lost a $54 million lawsuit against a dry cleaners over a missing pair of pants is suing to get his job back and at least $1 million in damages. At least he hasn't played the race card yet.
In a response to a Freedom of Information Act request from The Associated Press, the city's general counsel wrote that Pearson's term as an administrative law judge expired in May 2007, and the D.C. Commission on Selection and Tenure of Administrative Law Judges voted not to reappoint him. The panel reached its decision based on Pearson's work and temperament as a judge and the $54 million lawsuit. Pearson had requested to be appointed for a 10-year term.
The $54 million pants suit saga began when Pearson filed a civil suit for losing a pair of pants and using signs that Pearson claimed were deceptive. Initially, Pearson calculated his losses at $67 million but lowered his request to $54 million.
Those were his favorite pair of pants; he suffered great emotional distress!
In June 2007, Judge Judith Bartnoff ruled that the Chungs did not violate the consumer protection law by failing to live up to Pearson's expectations of the "Satisfaction Guaranteed" sign once displayed in the store. The Chungs sold the business because of the revenue losses and emotional toll the family suffered as a result of the lawsuit.