HOW A JUDGE WHO LOST HIS PANTS AND HIS SUIT STILL ENDS UP CLEANING OUT THE CHUNGS
A waist of epic proportions
By now, you've heard the news that the D.C. judge dismissed Judge Roy Pearson's frivolous $54 million lawsuit against the Chungs and their dry cleaning business.
But Pearson wasn't caught with his pants down.
In fact, as of now, the Chungs are the losers.
Why? Pearson didn't pay for a lawyer; he represented himself. He didn't lose much money, except for some minor court costs that the court ordered him to pay.
On the other hand, the Chungs could end up declaring bankruptcy. Unless the presiding judge makes Pearson pay for their legal expenses, they will have sunk about $100,000 into paying for representation.
That bill will only balloon if Pearson appeals, which he has threatened to do.
In other words, if Pearson's goal was to thrust the Chungs into financial ruin, he has prevailed.
Unfortunately, the presiding judge in this case won't decide this matter of legal fees until the appeals process is completed, which could take over a year. Moreover, even if Pearson is ordered to compensate the Chungs for their attorneys' fees, there's the issue of whether he is solvent.
(Side note: If Pearson is ordered to pay the Chungs' legal fees, this will not be a first for him. In Pearson's divorce proceedings, a Virgina judge said he created "unnecessary litigation" and ordered him to pay his wife's $12,000 legal fees.)
Regardless of what happens, here's hoping that Sponge-Roy-Square-Pants doesn't inspire other rich, litigious plaintiffs to bankrupt family businesses out of irrational vendettas.
On the bright side, this news did come with some horrible -- and by horrible, I mean excellent -- puns:
• NY Daily News: "Pressed wrong suit"
• Reuters: "Judge presses $54 million suit for lost pants"
• WaPo: "Pants Verdict: Judge Stuffs The Pants Man"
• NY Post: "He's Left Pant-ing"
• Seattle Times: "Plaintiff won’t pocket $54 million after losing lawsuit over pants"
Labels: law
<< Home