Judge sues cleaner for $65M over pants

Jin Nam Chung and Ki Chung stand inside of their dry cleaning business, Custom Cleaners, in Washington on Wednesday, May 2, 2007. The Chung's are being sued for 65 million dollars over a contentious pair of pants belonging to a local judge, and for using signs that the judge claims were deceptive. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

By LUBNA TAKRURI, Associated Press Writer

According to court documents, the problem began in May 2005 when Pearson became a judge and brought several suits for alteration to Custom Cleaners in Northeast Washington, a place he patronized regularly despite previous disagreements with the Chungs. A pair of pants from one suit was not ready when he requested it two days later, and was deemed to be missing.

Manning said the cleaners made three settlement offers to Pearson. First they offered $3,000, then $4,600, then $12,000. But Pearson wasn't satisfied and expanded his calculations beyond one pair of pants.

Because Pearson no longer wanted to use his neighborhood dry cleaner, part of his lawsuit calls for $15,000 — the price to rent a car every weekend for 10 years to go to another business.