A former judge who sued a D.C. dry cleaner for $54 million over a missing pair of pants was back in court Wednesday.
Roy Pearson appeared before a three-judge appellate panel, more than a year after a D.C. Superior Court judge rejected his claim that he was defrauded by a "satisfaction guaranteed" sign in the store.
Pearson sued Custom Cleaners more than three years ago for $67 million in 2005 after the cleaners misplaced a pair of his trousers. He later lowered his demand to $54 million.
D.C. appeals court judges questioned Pearson about whether he thought the sign offered an unconditional guarantee to whatever damages he believed were appropriate.
They also asked whether the South Korean immigrants who owned the business made a good faith effort to accommodate Pearson. Pearson maintained that his lawsuit has merit under consumer protection laws.
The owners later sold the shop involved in the dispute, citing a loss of revenue and the emotional strain of defending the lawsuit.
When Pearson first brought the suit, he was an administrative law judge. Pearson later lost his job when a D.C. commission voted not to reappoint him.
