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Friday, Jun 15, 2007
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The case of the judge's trousers

American suing dry cleaner says merchant must honour all demands

WASHINGTON: A judge who is suing a dry cleaner here for $54 million testified on Wednesday that he believes a merchant should pay any customer who demands compensation, even if the merchant believes the customer is lying.

Administrative law judge Roy L. Pearson, who sued the immigrant-owned business after it allegedly lost his trousers, argues he is acting in the interest of all city residents against poor business practices. Defence attorneys call his claim "outlandish."

Under cross-examination on Wednesday, Mr. Pearson said the District of Columbia Consumer Protection Act, under which he is suing Custom Cleaners, should grant a customer whatever he or she wants if there is a "Satisfaction Guaranteed" sign.

The Defence Attorney asked Mr. Pearson repeatedly whether, if he was a merchant, he would pay any customer who asked for compensation. Mr. Pearson kept responding with legalese, and each time Judge Judith Bartnoff instructed him to answer the question. Finally, he said, "Yes."

Mr. Pearson, 57, originally sued Custom Cleaners for about $65 million by adding up violations under the consumer protection act and almost $2 million in common law claims.

He is no longer seeking damages related to the trousers and is focussing his claims on two signs in the shop, that have since been removed. He said on Wednesday he wants only $2 million in damages for himself — for mental anguish and inconvenience — plus $500,000 in attorney's fees for representing himself. Anything more that might be award ed would go into a fund "to educate people of their rights under the Consumer Protection Act." — AP

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