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'Pants suit' attorney organizes fund-raiser
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Trial attorney Chris Manning, seen here annoucing the Chung's victory in the dry cleaning case, has set up a website for his clients to raise money to offset their legal costs incurred in defending the case that lasted two years over a missing pair of pants.
WASHINGTON (Map, News) - The Korean dry cleaners forced to spend thousands of dollars defending themselves against a $54 million lawsuit by a local judge over a pair of lost pants will get help paying legal bills at an upcoming fund-raiser.
Attorney Chris Manning of Manning & Sossamon, who represented Jin, Soo and Ki Chung, has launched a website, chungfundraiser.com and announced plans to host a fund-raising event for the Chungs on Tue, July 24.
On the website, the Chungs also ask for cash donations to the Custom Cleaners Defense Fund which is being handled by Manning's law firm.
On Monday, District of Columbia Superior Court Judge Judith Bartnoff scuttled any chance that administrative law Judge Roy L. Pearson had of swiftly reviving the case by tossing out his request that she reconsider her June decision to drop the case. Bartnoff said Monday that Pearson hadn't mustered "any new argument" to change her mind. In her June ruling, Bartnoff order Pearson to pay thousands of dollars in court costs. But the Chungs are still out tens of thousands of dollars in legal bills. They are weighing a suit to recover those costs from Pearson, but legal experts say that is an uphill fight.
Manning did not return calls for comment early Tuesday. The fundraiser, to be held at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, is backed by business lobbies that target frivolous lawsuits.
Among the groups that are co-sponsoring are the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform and the American Tort Reform Association. "The suit has cost the Chungs dearly in terms of defense costs, years of stress and time away from their family and business," says a statement displayed on the website.
Besides business lobby groups, a cross-section of entities committed to legal reform are sponsoring the event, including APCO Worldwide, National Review Online, Townhall.com, Revere Strategy Group, and Cox Consulting group.
Comments from Examiner Readers
11:59 AM MST on Wed., Aug. 8, 2007 re: "'Pants suit' attorney organizes fund-raiser"
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Examiner Reader said:
And once again this only proves that our judicial system is not and has never been about justice.
161 agree | 158 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
To David D -- To the extent the Chungs' case received national attention, they are in fact lucky. More often than not, most defendants who are involved in what most people would consider to be "frivolous" lawsuits end up bearing the brunt of it -- without the benefit of a fundraiser to offset the costs. However, you are wrong when you argue that the system is designed to remedy this. In most states, the losing party cannot recover his attorney's fees unless the suit was 'frivolous.' Legally, 'frivolous' has a much different meaning than what it means to the average lay person. In the end, getting attorney's fees on the grounds that the suit was 'frivolous' is nearly impossible. That is why I think the Chungs are so sympathetic. The remedy is to get more national attention on these types of ridiculous claims so that a change is made in the rules. You'd be amazed at some of the silly crap people sue over.
171 agree | 153 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
If Manning and his firm really want to help out the Chungs, why not simply cut their costs, rather than host a self-serving fundraiser where all of the funds go directly to Manning/his firm? I understand that they are entitled to be compensated for their work, no matter how ridiculous Pearson's claim. I just don't think he or the firm should be involved in any 'fundraiser' that's designed to pay the Chung's legal bills -- which necessarily means a fundraiser designed to pay the firm.
167 agree | 150 disagree
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Examiner Reader said:
To prevent these kind of frivoleous lawsuit, we should have laws to make those initiating these crazy lawsuits to pay for court fee and defense lawyers fee. Otherwise, it is just UNFAIR to those who can not afford to defend themselves . Mr. PEARSON has taken advantage of the limited knowledge of the hardworking immigrants trying to extort their hard earned dollars. He should be stripped of his license for his predator behavior to protect the public.
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David D. of SS, MD said:
That is crazy...the legal system allows for such recovery. If they do not want to put up the money to attempt to get back their legal fees through the legal system then they should just forget it. This should be illegal and is certainly absurd. Maybe their American dream is becoming our nightmare. I certainly would not offer help. They certainly would not assist me is I were sued of something stupid. That is the price of doing business in the USA.
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