2 Jul, 2007
Dry cleaner wins $54 million suit over missing pants
WASHINGTON — A judge ruled Monday that no pair of pants is worth $54 million, rejecting a lawsuit that took a dry cleaner’s promise of “Satisfaction Guaranteed” to its most litigious extreme.
Roy L. Pearson became a worldwide symbol of legal abuse by seeking jackpot justice from a simple complaint — that a neighborhood dry cleaners lost the pants from a suit and tried to give him a pair that were not his.
His claim, reduced from $67 million, was based on a strict interpretation of the city’s consumer protection law — which imposes fines of $1,500 per violation — as well as damages for inconvenience, mental anguish and attorney’s fees for representing himself.
But District of Columbia Superior Court Judge Judith Bartnoff ruled that the owners of Custom Cleaners 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.
Bartnoff ordered Pearson to pay clerical court costs of about $1,000 to defendants Soo Chung, Jin Nam Chung and Ki Y. Chung. A motion to recover the Chungs’ tens of thousands of dollars in attorney fees will be considered later.
“Judge Bartnoff has spoken loudly in suggesting that, while consumers should be protected, abusive lawsuits like this will not be tolerated,” the Chungs’ attorney, Chris Manning, said in a statement. “Judge Bartnoff has chosen common sense and reasonableness over irrationality and unbridled venom.”
Speaking to reporters outside their dry cleaners, the Chungs said they held no hard feelings toward Pearson. “If he wants to continue using our services, then, yes, he is welcome,” Soo Chung, a Korean immigrant, said through a translator.
Over the course of the litigation, the Chungs said they made three settlement offers — $3,000, then $4,600, then $12,000 — all rejected.
The case garnered international attention and renewed calls for litigation reform.
“This case was giving American justice a black eye around the world, and it was all the more upsetting because it was a judge and lawyer who was bringing the suit,” said Paul Rothstein, a Georgetown University law professor.
photo courtesy images.google.com & story freep.com, 6/25/07
I'll see you in court!
1 Corinthians 6:1-8 (NLT)
Lawsuits Against Believers
1 When one of you has a dispute with another believer, how dare you file a lawsuit and ask a secular court to decide the matter instead of taking it to other believers! 2 Don’t you realize that someday we believers will judge the world? And since you are going to judge the world, can’t you decide even these little things among yourselves? 3 Don’t you realize that we will judge angels? So you should surely be able to resolve ordinary disputes in this life. 4 If you have legal disputes about such matters, why go to outside judges who are not respected by the church? 5 I am saying this to shame you. Isn’t there anyone in all the church who is wise enough to decide these issues? 6 But instead, one believer sues another—right in front of unbelievers!
7 Even to have such lawsuits with one another is a defeat for you. Why not just accept the injustice and leave it at that? Why not let yourselves be cheated? 8 Instead, you yourselves are the ones who do wrong and cheat even your fellow believers.
What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about lawsuits among followers of Christ?
Obviously, we should not "sue the pants off" of each other!
Tyndale's LIFE APPLICATION STUDY BIBLE notes explain it this way:
6:6-8 Why did Paul say that Christians should not take their disagreements to unbelievers in secular courts? (1) If the judge and jury are not Christians, they are not likely to be sensitive to Christian values. (2) The basis for going to court is often revenge; this should never be a Christian's motive. (3) Lawsuits harm the cause of Christ and make the church look bad, causing unbelievers to focus on its problems rather than on its purpose.
If we, as followers of Jesus, take our differences to court, we give the cause of Christ a "black eye", just like Mr. Pearson, a judge himself, has given the American justice system by playing the "victim" and trying to get $54 million for a pair of pants.
Even if you and I are not going to sue someone, are we playing the "victim" game over situations in life that really aren't a big deal? We need to think about the impact this has on those who are not yet followers of Jesus.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Ask Christ to give us an attitude of a servant who loves and forgives others even when they act unjustly toward us.
- For the next month or so, whenever you can't find a pair of pants or jeans, let Jesus remind you how important it is to not play the "blame game" with others.
How can we connect today's story and God's Story scripture and our story to others?
- Encourage other followers of Jesus to apply Paul's teaching to not sue each other by sharing with them what you learned in today's DAILYBIDE.
- Use today's story about the $54 million dollar pants as a conversation starter with someone in your storysphere who needs Jesus. Ask your friends to describe how they see the "blame game" and "I'm a victim" mentality played out in our culture. Look for the opportunity to share your story by talking about your desire to not act like a "victim". Look for the opportunity to share more of God's Story by talking about how Jesus was unjustly accused but was willing to give his life on the cross for each of us who really are guilty.
- Pray for lawyers who are followers of Jesus. They have a tough job in our culture.
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