Scott McCabe, The Examiner
2007-07-26 07:00:00.0
Current rank: Not ranked

WASHINGTON -

Legal reform advocates raised more than $62,000 to help the owners of a dry cleaners pay for the attorney fees resulting from the $54 million lawsuit brought over a lost pair of pants.

The now-famous trousers were in full display at the fundraiser but had to be protected by an armed guard because the pants remain as evidence in the ongoing case.

The lawsuit brought international attention to the D.C. legal system and was a rallying point for frivolous-lawsuit reformers.

“[Jin, Soo and Ki Chung] epitomize the spirit of enterprise–building a small business, helping their neighbors and living the American dream–until someone saw the chance to strike it rich playing the litigation lottery over a pair of temporarily misplaced slacks,” said Lisa Rickard of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, co-host of the event with the American Tort Reform Association.

Roy Pearson, the administrative lawjudge who brought the lawsuit, had until Wednesday to file papers indicating whether he would appeal D.C. Superior Court Judge Judith Bartnoff’s decision in favor of the dry cleaners.

It was unclear whether Pearson filed an appeal.

Whatever happens with the lawsuit, Pearson’s future as a D.C. administrative law judge and his salary of more than $100,000 annually are in doubt.

The administrative law commission is expected to decide whether Pearson should be appointed to a 10-year term on the bench, following a two-year term that expired in April.

According to sources, Pearson’s boss, D.C. Chief Administrative Judge Tyrone Butler, recommended in a letter to the commission that it reject Pearson’s reappointment.

smccabe@dcexaminer.com