Litigation

Crazy Pants Lawyer Gets Zero: The System Works

My friend and fellow consumer justice lawyer Joe Watkins wrote this in response to the zero verdict today in that case better known as the crazy pants lawsuit:

The administrative law judge, Roy Pearson of Washington DC, who sued a drycleaners over a pair of pants lost in court today. 

This news comes to no surprise to the President of the Georgia Trial Lawyers Association (GTLA), Joe Watkins.  “Just as we anticipated, the Civil Justice System worked today.  The Judge presiding over the case ruled in favor of the drycleaners—and against the man at the center of this ridiculous business dispute.”

Pearson filed suit against the drycleaners for $54 million after alleging that they lost a pair of his pants. “The suit itself was ludicrous.  As an attorney for 30 years I am aware of the dangers that this type of sensationalism can generate.  The general public cannot help but be engrossed in its details.  Now that the decision has been reached, the general public can bask in what is just another example of the Civil Justice System accurately and fairly working for us all,” said Watkins.

The attorney representing the drycleaners was Chris Manning, a member of the American Association for Justice (AAJ), the national affiliate of GTLA.  AAJ has been sharply critical of Judge Pearson’s lawsuit.  In April, AAJ CEO Jon Haber called on the District of Columbia Bar Association to conduct a disciplinary investigation of Judge Pearson for his conduct in this matter. Haber and AAJ President Lewis “Mike” Eidson pledged to support the defendant’s defense fund and encouraged the AAJ membership to also contribute.

“It is our hope that the resolution of this case garners as much media attention as it did when it was filed.  The public deserves to know the how the Civil Justice System works on their behalf,” said Watkins.

Full post as published by Trial Lawyer Resource Center on June 25, 2007 (boomark / email).