Lawsuit abuse, squared
Posted by Richard on April 27, 2007
Marc Fisher at The Washington Post has the story of a Washington, D.C., lawsuit that must rank among the most insane, over-the-top, spiteful, and abusive court actions ever:
When the neighborhood dry cleaner misplaced Roy Pearson's pants, he took action. He complained. He demanded compensation. And then he sued. Man, did he sue.
Two years, thousands of pages of legal documents and many hundreds of hours of investigative work later, Pearson is seeking to make Custom Cleaners pay — would you believe more than the payroll of the entire Washington Nationals roster?
He says he deserves millions for the damages he suffered by not getting his pants back, for his litigation costs, for "mental suffering, inconvenience and discomfort," for the value of the time he has spent on the lawsuit, for leasing a car every weekend for 10 years and for a replacement suit, according to court papers.
Pearson is demanding $65,462,500. The original alteration work on the pants cost $10.50.
By the way, Pearson is a lawyer. Okay, you probably figured that. But get this: He's a judge, too — an administrative law judge for the District of Columbia.
I'm telling you, they need to start selling tickets down at the courthouse.
Go read the rest. The story is compelling, the details are just unbelievable, and the way Pearson arrived at his $65 million damage claim is simply breathtaking. Judge Roy Pearson should become the national poster child for tort reform.
Joe said
I was a Police Officer for over 30 years, I dont profess to be an expert on the Law, but do know something is wrong here. As we struggle thru a War in Iraq and other places,struggle to feed our underpaid and sometimes exploited citizens, struggle with health care issues and have to endure a President who is equal to a lump of swamp slime, we now have Judge Pearson.
I believe that Pearson is attempting to find a nitch on President Bush’s staff..this line of thinking is not only a joke without a punchline..it’s a farce of the 1st magnitude.
If this isn’t a frivaious lawsuit and a violation of process….then I am a Chinese Paratrooper.
The Bar needs to look close at this Judge and if nothing else has him increase his dose of Ritalin..but down deep I know what will happen…Judge Pearson will rise to the top level of his profession, become part of the Bush staff and push for an invasion of some small country that has dry Cleaners in mass….another example of WMD’S..(Wipeout and Make drycleaners Suffer) that we must overcome as a Nation