No Justice

There really is no justice in the $54 Million Pants Nightmare.

As we learned this week, the owners of Custom Dry Cleaners who were sued by Judge Roy Pearson for losing a pair of his pants, have sold their once profitable business citing emotional and financial toil as the reason for folding tent. The Chungs will maintain their other dry cleaning business across town, but for this case, they simply decided that they had had enough despite winning the case against him. Pearson’s appeal to the DC Appeals Court will finally be heard sometime in 2008.

So I felt compelled to confront Judge Pearson once again last night, chasing him without comment up to his apartment where he expectedly slammed the door in my face. Although, this time, he actually called the POLICE on me. So I didn’t stick around for long.

But just to get a snap shot of what Pearson is really like, one of his immediate neighbors told me that when they moved in, Pearson harassed them over “trash can lid compliance” with DC codes.

So it’s fair to say that this is a guy who simply relishes in tormenting others unreasonably. And the real travesty here is that he is STILL EMPLOYED as a DC Administrative Judge – performing non-judicial tasks, but collecting a $100,000 paycheck nonetheless.

The panel that employs Pearson has sent him a letter that they are not likely to re-appoint him – but I really think in the name of justice, DC should fire him immediately.

"Surf's Up" Dude!

In the midst of a very busy work schedule – devoting the majority of my time to covering important news events like the $54 Million Pants Suit, I actually managed on Sunday to have a life.

And I will confess that I was dead tired and not really up for much more than trying to get in a few extra hours of sleep on Sunday – but thankfully my wife rousting me up to take our daughter to the movies.

We went to see the new animated film Surf’s Up.

It’s the story of a young penguin named Cody Maverick who finds his way from the frozen Antarctic waters of Shiverpool to the annual championship contest held in honor of the legendary “The Big Z Memorial Surf Off” somewhere in tropical paradise.

Big Z is Cody’s childhood surf Idol who disappeared after the final wave of the contest 10 years earlier never to be seen again. In Cody’s mind, if he can just manage to win the trophy of the Big Z then all of life’s joys will be instantly realized.

Without giving away spoilers here, suffice it to say that Cody finds himself in the isolated company of a mysterious older Penguin named Geek who saves his life after a terrible surf accident just days before the big contest.

During the course of the movie – and Cody’s rehabilitation – many lessons are learned. For instance, when Cody believes what he needs most is a teacher in the water; Geek makes him learn the patience of building his own board. And is often the case with those of us who focus on the end result rather than what goes into the journey, a greater lesson is learned.
Geek continues to refuse to take Cody into the surf until he passes “the test” – which is learning to have FUN. Once Cody begins to have fun and lets go of trying to force the situation, he realizes his life is much happier… and his surfing is much better.

I have often written here that for me surfing is life’s metaphor. I could write tomes on this theory – and maybe someday I actually will. But for this cute film, I took away this comparison: Surfing requires skill and strength – but what is most needed comes from the heart and soul.
So even if you don’t have a 5-year old to take with you, go see it soon. It just might change your outlook on what really matters in life… Surf’s Up!

I can be reached for questions, comments or surf reports at Griffsnotes@foxnews.com.

Fancy Pants: $54 Million

Well, he’s dropped his pants but the very real lawsuit abuse continues… and it all kicks off on Monday - or so it was supposed to... it appears the trial has been moved to Tuesday/
DC Judge Roy L. Pearson Jr. who originally brought his outrageous $67 million lawsuit against a Korean family-owned dry cleaners has dropped his claim to $54 million and trial starts at 9:15a on Tuesday morning – and I will be there at the DC Superior Court.

According to Pearson, he has decided to drop the actual loss of the pants themselves (the Chung family was prepared to present a pair of pants that they believe are the actual lost pair) and focus on the “false advertising” aspect of the case – which is apparently worth $54 million.
So now, we at least know that the Judge valued his pants at $13 million!

Under the DC Consumer Protection Act, Judge Pearson believes the Chungs committed fraud and falsely advertised their services based on two signs that were in the shop at the time of the original transaction: “Satisfaction Guaranteed” and “Same Day Service.”

I spoke yesterday with Chung family attorney Chris Manning who told me that he felt Judge Pearson seems to be determined in harassing his clients who have suffered legal costs in the “upper tens of thousands of dollars.”

As a sidebar to this case, Judge Pearson (who is on administrative leave) is being considered for re-appointment to a 10-year term as an administrative hearing judge. No word on that from the tight-lipped court officials. And my calls and emails to Pearson have not been returned.

So get ready for the circus coming to DC – to which I have procured an outrageous pair of pants to wear at the trial myself as a social commentary on the frivolous nature of the case.

But it’s important to remember that there is a serious side to this case as well – the Chungs moved here in pursuit of the American dream many years ago and opened up a successful dry cleaners only to see their small fortunes evaporate at the hands of a vindictive legal official.
If you interested in helping – there is a website set up to help the Chungs offset legal costs with donations from the public. (www.customcleanersdefensefund.com)

I can be reached for questions or comments at Griffsnotes@foxnews.com.