Why lawywers have a poor image

[Resolute 14]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...042502763.html

[troutman]

Hmmm, dry-cleaner law.

Has the dry cleaner lost your pants? Has it caused you mental anguish?

No fee, unless we collect $ for you!

[fredr123]

http://calgary.ctv.ca/servlet/RTGAMA...calgary.ctv.ca
But lawyers are in short supply, dontchaknow.

[troutman]

3700 lawyers in Calgary? I'm sure most of you are thinking that is about 3000 too many.

Time for a fee increase.

[ken0042]

It's the old story- everybody hates lawyers, but they love their lawyer.

Odd stories like this make the news, but the average everyday stuff doesn't. Like when I had to go to small claims court, and a local lawyer gave me some of his time for free to help me get started. That doesn't make the news, but I'm sure it happens all day everyday.

[Burninator]

Pearson is demanding $65,462,500. The original alteration work on the pants cost $10.50.
...
But Pearson pushes on. How does he get to $65 million? The District's consumer protection law provides for damages of $1,500 per violation per day. Pearson started multiplying: 12 violations over 1,200 days, times three defendants. A pant leg here, a pant leg there, and soon, you're talking $65 million.

I hope the judge or appeals court (if it gets that far) knocks about, oh lets say, 65 million off of that amount.

What a tool.

[Cowperson]

"This case shocks me on a daily basis," Manning says. "Pearson has a lot of time on his hands, and the Chungs have been abused in a ghastly way. It's going to cost them tens of thousands to defend this case."

That's the tragedy . . . . . these ordinary business people are being abused by a real knob who is likely doing this for some perverted sense of amusement.

Cowperson

[ericschand]

Originally Posted by Cowperson

"This case shocks me on a daily basis," Manning says. "Pearson has a lot of time on his hands, and the Chungs have been abused in a ghastly way. It's going to cost them tens of thousands to defend this case."

That's the tragedy . . . . . these ordinary business people are being abused by a real knob who is likely doing this for some perverted sense of amusement.

Cowperson

Amusement and FTA, "..he might be up against his Visa card limit..."
The guy had his credit card run up such that he couldn't cover $10
for alterations? He didn't have $10 in cash? Didn't use his bank card?

That's probably what the real reason is...

If the judge is anywhere near reasonable, this guy should have
taken the initial $1150 go-away gift.

ers

[GrrlGoalie33]

Originally Posted by ericschand

Didn't use his bank card?

A lot of places in the states don't use direct debit, especially small places like a dry cleaner.

[mykalberta]

Lawyers have a bad impression because of what the one girl on the final 2 of Apprentice did.

Corporate Lawyer specializing in workers compensation claims. Geesh.

MYK

[Daradon]

While this case may be extreme, I have heard lots of cases, even in Canada, where an angry party uses the system to try and cause as much headaches and monetary pain (in the form of legal fees) to someone they feel rightly or wrongly, has wronged them. They don't actually think they are going to win the case, they just want to stick it to the other person for as hard and long as they can.

It's sad to think about, and you would think they could build some sort of protection into the system to make sure this doesn't happen as often as it does.

[Resolute 14]

Update: Panel is assessing this guy's fitness to be a judge in light of this case.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...050202479.html

It's also not the first time he has behaved like a tool either:

The Virginia Court of Appeals, in a 2005 review of Mr. Pearson's divorce proceedings, upheld findings that he created "unnecessary litigation" in a relatively simple case and was responsible for "excessive driving up" of legal costs.

Betcha he adds this to his suit against the dry cleaners as well. "They cost me my job!"

[Daradon]

^^^ as mentioned above

there needs to be a rule

[Kjesse]

There are several rules in Alberta designed to prevent frivolous or questionable lawsuits. They don't work perfectly, of course.

Also, I'm involved in hiring for a big firm in downtown Calgary, and can positively say there is a shortage of skilled lawyers in the 3 to 7 year call range.

There are lots of students still looking for articles this year though.

[Cowperson]

Somebody is setting up a "Custom Cleaners Defence Fund" to help the hapless Korean victims of this idiot.

http://www.customcleanersdefensefund.com/

Also, just channel surfing last night, I saw the tail-end of a FOX attempt to ambush this guy at his home and CNN seemed to be putting the story up frequently.

Everyone loves an underdog.



Cowperson

[Cowperson]

This case finally sees its first day in court . . . . .

The Washington Post version is fairly humourous:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...l?nav=hcmodule

A columnist with Fox News dumps on the accuser

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,281473,00.html

Cowperson

[J pold]

Wow.

Want an ass punching him in the face would benefit the world

[Burninator]

"These are not my pants," Pearson recalled telling Chung when she handed him a pair of gray pants with cuffs. "I have in my adult life, with one exception, never worn pants with cuffs."
"And she said, 'These are your pants.' "
Pearson paused. He struggled to breathe deeply. He could not continue. Pearson blurted a request for a break, stood up, turned around and walked out of the courtroom, tears dripping from his full and reddened eyes.



I think he is actually insane. In the middle of talking about recieving the wrong pair of pants he broke down crying? This guy is acting like a spoiled child. The trail ends today, I hope the judge awards the dry cleaners a ton of cash for having to go through the hassle of dealing with his complete d-bag. This is abuse by this guy.

[HOZ]

Pearson paused. He struggled to breathe deeply. He could not continue. Pearson blurted a request for a break, stood up, turned around and walked out of the courtroom, tears dripping from his full and reddened eyes.

He obviouslu loved his pants very much. I don't know how you people can mock this poor, poor fellow.

[Table 5]

those must have been some seriously awesome pants.