US:A US judge pressed a $54 million lawsuit yesterday against a dry cleaning shop which he said violated consumer protection laws when it lost his trousers.
Roy L Pearson, an administrative judge for the District of Columbia, told a local court that Custom Cleaners should pay the sum because a "satisfaction guaranteed" sign deceived consumers who, like him, were dissatisfied with their experience.
"You will search the records of the District of Columbia courts in vain for a case of more egregious or wilful misconduct," Judge Pearson told DC judge Judith Bartnoff.
The lawyer for the Korean immigrants who run the dry cleaners said Judge Pearson was looking for a way to resolve his financial difficulties after a divorce. "It's simply a frivolous lawsuit brought by an unhappy customer with a bone to pick," attorney Chris Manning said.
Judge Pearson filed suit after the cleaners lost his trousers in 2005. Jin Chung, Soo Chung and Ki Chung said they located the trousers a few days later, but Judge Pearson said they were not his. He counted 12 separate violations of a consumer protection law over 1,200 days, multiplied by the three defendants. At $1,500 a day that is $65 million. Judge Pearson has rejected several settlement offers, but has since reduced his claim to $54 million.
The Chungs, who immigrated from South Korea in 1992, have grown disillusioned with the US and might return to their native country, Mr Manning said.
The case, expected to conclude today, has attracted attention as an example of over-litigiousness in the US . - (Reuters)