Infamous D.C. “$54 Million Pants Lawsuit” Judge Loses Wrongful Termination Suit

July 24, 2009

The infamous ex-administrative judge Roy L. Pearson, Jr. recently had his wrongful termination claims tossed out by a federal judge on the grounds that his firing for publicly waging war against a dry cleaner was unacceptable for a sitting federal judge.  Many do not remember Pearson, but rather, the court case of Pearson v. Chung, which essentially was a $54 million dollar suit against a dry cleaning store over a lost pair of pants that captured national media attention.  Not only did the case garner unwanted national publicity, cause outcries at existing American tort laws, and stir up racial tensions in an already tense D.C. area, but has continued in  post-trial litigation for nearly half a decade.

In the end, Pearson not only lost his suit, but also was forced pay the Chung family-operated dry-cleaners for their court costs.  Additionally, Pearsons’ wife divorced him, and in 2007, the courts assessed $12,000 in damages to Pearson for frivolous litigation connected to the divorce case and threatening to disbar his wife’s attorney.   In 2007 as well, Pearson was not reaffirmed for a ten-year extension of his appointment as a federal administrative judge, and in turn, lost his position and salary of over $100,000 annually.  Following more litigation with the Chung family and some litigation with the Office of Administrative Hearings, Pearson finally filed a wrongful termination suit, which including demanding his job back, requested one million dollars in damages.  The suit was dismissed by U.S. District Judge Ellen S. Huvelle.  The “pants” in question were never recovered.