$54M pants suit man denied re-hearing of case

WASHINGTON - The D.C. Court of Appeals has denied the petition of Roy Pearson to re-hear his case.

The former administrative law judge sued his dry cleaner for $54 million after they lost his pants, claiming they didn't live up to their satisfaction guarantee.

Pearson lost the first trial in D.C. Superior Court and lost again before a three-member panel of the Court of Appeals. He then asked the entire appeals court to re-hear the case -- which they have now refused.

Pearson's only remaining option is the U.S. Supreme Court.

The saga involving the missing pants started when Pearson filed a civil suit against Jin Nam and Ki Chung, the owners of Custom Cleaners in Northeast.

Back 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.

After losing his case in court, Pearson lost his job as a judge in the District when a supervising panel said his lawsuit showed bad judgment and reflected poorly on the city. He initially calculated his losses at $67 million but later lowered them to $54 million.

The Chungs sold the business because of the revenue losses and emotional toll the family suffered after the lawsuit.

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