Client adds new wrinkle with his $65-million suit

A missing pair of pants has led to one big suit.

A customer got so steamed when a dry cleaner lost his trousers that he sued for $65 million. Two years later, he is still pressing the suit.

The case has demoralized the owners of the mom-and-pop business and brought demands that the customer -- an administrative law judge in Washington -- be disbarred and removed from office for pursuing a claim that critics call frivolous and abusive.

Jin Nam Chung, Ki Chung and their son, Soo Chung, are considering moving back to Seoul, seven years after they opened their dry-cleaning business in the U.S. capital, said their lawyer, Chris Manning.

“They’re out a lot of money, but more importantly, incredibly disenchanted with the system,” Manning said. “This has destroyed their lives.”

The customer, Roy L. Pearson Jr., who has been representing himself, declined to comment.

According to court documents, the problem began in May 2005 when Pearson became a judge and brought several suits for alterations to Custom Cleaners in Washington. A pair of pants was missing when he requested it two days later.

Pearson asked the cleaners for the full price of the suit, more than $1,000.

But a week later, the Chungs said the pants had been found and refused to pay. Pearson said the pants were not his, and decided to sue the Chungs.

Manning said the cleaners have made three settlement offers to Pearson: $3,000, then $4,600, then $12,000.

But Pearson was not satisfied and expanded his calculations beyond one pair of pants. Because he no longer wanted to use his neighborhood dry cleaner, Pearson asked in his lawsuit for $15,000 -- the cost of renting a car every weekend for 10 years to go to another business.

Manning said Pearson appeared to think he had the right to a dry cleaner within four blocks of his apartment.

The bulk of the $65-million demand comes from Pearson’s strict interpretation of Washington consumer protection law, which imposes fines of $1,500 per violation per day. Pearson counted 12 daily violations on each of 1,200 days, then multiplied that by three defendants.

Much of Pearson’s case rests on two signs Custom Cleaners once had on its walls: “Satisfaction Guaranteed” and “Same Day Service.” He claims the signs amount to fraud.

The case is set for trial June 11.

Sherman Joyce, president of the American Tort Reform Assn., an organization that fights what it considers abusive lawsuits against small businesses, has asked that Pearson be denied a renewal this week of his judicial appointment.

Chief Administrative Law Judge Tyrone Butler had no comment on Pearson’s reappointment prospects.

Melvin Welles, a former chief administrative law judge, wrote the Washington Post to say if he were the judge, he would throw out the suit and order Pearson to pay the Chungs for legal expenses and mental suffering. He also called for Pearson’s ouster.