August 16, 2007	Thursday	Sha’aban 2, 1428

WASHINGTON, Aug 15: A US judge demanding millions of dollars from a Korean-owned dry cleaning business in compensation for losing his trousers is carrying on his legal battle despite a court dismissal of his lawsuit, authorities said on Wednesday.

Roy Pearson alleges that Custom Cleaners, run by Korean immigrants Jin and Soo Chung and their son, lost his blue and red-striped gray trousers in 2005 and misled him with a sign that read “satisfaction guaranteed.” Pearson calculated that the dry cleaners owed him up to $67 million under District of Columbia consumer protection laws — at $1,500 for every day the cleaners left the sign up in their shop.

A court rejected his lawsuit two months ago, saying Pearson failed to prove that his trousers had been misplaced. But the administrative judge in the US capital is appealing the case.

Pearson’s lawsuit has been portrayed as a symbol of the country's legal excesses. Lead defence lawyer Christopher Manning reportedly called the case “a terrible example of American litigiousness.” Pearson earlier rejected a proposed settlement by the Chungs of $12,000.—AFP