Lawyer Sues Dry Cleaner for $67 million! over $10 cleaning bill

[Linflas]

Originally posted by: Wapp
Pricks like him are why I want to leave the DC/VA/MD area.

I think you have to leave the entire country to escape frivolous lawsuits like this. They are not endemic to just the Washington Metro area.

 

[Feneant2]

God bless Canada... and every other country in the world where people don't sue each other over complete and utter bullsh*t like this.

 

[Dualist]

Wow, not sure if that was the right thing to do, but he did got huge money for it.

 

[paulxcook]

In the UK, don't plaintiffs that don't win in cases like this have to pay the legal fees for the defendant? That should be a rule here.

The justice system is a joke for letting go on this long, regardless of whether or not it eventually gets thrown out. You can't have a law for every situation that comes up, but I thought that was what judges were for. The case should've been thrown out long ago.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

Just wait, if it goes to trial, I would wager money on the Judge claiming they "lost" his pants because he was black.

 

[patentman]

Originally posted by: compuwiz1

Originally posted by: patentman
<--------------Soon to be lawyer: and even I know this isn;t right. Likely the claims will be thrown out and the lawyer will be hit with rule 11 sanctions for filing an excessively frivolous lawsuit.

What are rule 11 sanctions, and how exactly will they effect this guy?

Oh, and he needs to become a scumb sucking bottom dweller, sans an oxygen supply.

The Drycleaner is doing business in D.C., so likely only D.C. courts will have personal jurisdiction over them. D.C. is governed by Federal Law, so the Federal Code of Civil Procedure would apply in the case. Rules 11(b) and (c) of the Federal Code of Civil Procedure are on point:

(b) Representations to Court.
By presenting to the court (whether by signing, filing, submitting, or later advocating) a pleading, written motion, or other paper, an attorney or unrepresented party is certifying that to the best of the person's knowledge, information, and belief, formed after an inquiry reasonable under the circumstances,--

(1) it is not being presented for any improper purpose, such as to harass or to cause unnecessary delay or needless increase in the cost of litigation;

(2) the claims, defenses, and other legal contentions therein are warranted by existing law or by a nonfrivolous argument for the extension, modification, or reversal of existing law or the establishment of new law;

(3) the allegations and other factual contentions have evidentiary support or, if specifically so identified, are likely to have evidentiary support after a reasonable opportunity for further investigation or discovery; and

(4) the denials of factual contentions are warranted on the evidence or, if specifically so identified, are reasonably based on a lack of information or belief.

(c) Sanctions.
If, after notice and a reasonable opportunity to respond, the court determines that subdivision (b) has been violated, the court may, subject to the conditions stated below, impose an appropriate sanction upon the attorneys, law firms, or parties that have violated subdivision (b) or are responsible for the violation.

"Appropriate" sanctions can range from public humiliation, to fees, to filing a formal complaint about the attorney to the relavent bar recommending punishment, which can be disbarment.

It is possible that he could be forced to pay the Defendant's costs, but that is pretty rare.

 

[patentman]

Originally posted by: KarenMarie

Originally posted by: patentman
<--------------Soon to be lawyer: and even I know this isn;t right. Likely the claims will be thrown out and the lawyer will be hit with rule 11 sanctions for filing an excessively frivolous lawsuit.

It is even remotely possible that he will have to pay ALL court costs, legal fees and compensation for the defendants?

yes, it is remotely possible.

 

[patentman]

Originally posted by: Aharami
lawyers of ATOT: what are the chances that this case will get thrown out? what are the chances that the plaintiff will be ordered to pay for the defendants' legal fees?

what are the chances plaintiff will win?

Without seeing the complaint and researching the relavent law it is impossible to provide an accurate analysis of how the case will come out. If the case is tried before a jury it becomes a crapshoot even if the case were a slam dunk.

One thing people should note is that the amount of damages asked for in a complaint is largely irrelevant. You can ask for whatever you want. A judge or jury ultimately determines the figure that is paid out, unless the plantiff and defendant settle.

 

[patentman]

Originally posted by: Kelemvor
Just the classic case of why the Justice system in this country is complete crap. Cases like this just bog down everything and shoudl be thrown out as soon as they are filed.

Ah, the problems of having a constitutional right of due process.

 

[patentman]

Originally posted by: JeffreyLebowski
Just wait, if it goes to trial, I would wager money on the Judge claiming they "lost" his pants because he was black.

He would be extremely stupid to argue this. The Uniform Code of Judicial Conduct forbids judges from expressing opinions regarding race that may color the perception of the judicial system and the judge at bar. By playing the race card, it would imply that the judge is racially biased, and thus he would likely be removed from Office (and possibly disbarred).

 

[patentman]

Originally posted by: paulxcook
In the UK, don't plaintiffs that don't win in cases like this have to pay the legal fees for the defendant? That should be a rule here.

I think you are confusing "court costs" with "legal fees." Losers paying the legal fees of the winner is rare in both the U.S. and the U.K. to my understanding, although it does happen.

 

[patentman]

Originally posted by: Dualist
Wow, not sure if that was the right thing to do, but he did got huge money for it.

Might want to read the article again flash. the judge just filed the suit. He hasn't won anything yet except ridicule.

 

[DarkThinker]

For God's sake and all that is holy in the world!
He has destroyed the life of a working family for that?? He is insane and overly attached to the pants! He was offered $12000 in compensation, how much damage happened here? He should fsck off and die thats what he should do.

 

[toolboxolio]

Anyone start a petition to have this dousche disbarred?

 

[Indolent]

they offered him $12,000 and he wants more??? for ONE pare of pants?

 

[ch33zw1z]

Originally posted by: cKGunslinger
How the fsck do people like this become judges?

The same way marijuana is still illegal, blind people with bullshit.

It's ridiculous what he's doing to avg, hard working citizens. So what if he lost his "favorite" pair of pants.

 

[blustori]

Wow... just wow.

 

[yowolabi]

Originally posted by: Indolent
they offered him $12,000 and he wants more??? for ONE pare of pants?

They offered him 12,000 and the pants back. That still didn't satisfy him.

As far as how he became a judge.... can't any lawyer become a judge either by running for election? Then the citizens, who know nothing about your qualifications, vote for you if your name sounds familiar. That's why I left the judge section blank when I went to vote. Also you can get appointed. After seeing what Bush tried to do with Harriet Miers and the whole nation looking, you can imagine what kind of people get appointed to local courts with no one watching.

 

[SVT Cobra]

Herro, Welcum to ashitty cleanahs take a pants pease?

 

[RKS]

Originally posted by: SVT Cobra
Herro, Welcum to ashitty cleanahs take a pants pease?

Brilliant. :roll:

 

[rivan]

Originally posted by: Queasy
Wow.

Remove him from the bench and have him disbarred forever.

:thumbsup:

Maybe have his pee-pee whacked for good measure.

 

[SparkyJJO]

That man is a retard.

 

[DanTMWTMP]

W..T...F.

I'm fowarding this to my cousin in DC who has some connections within the law circles there. It may not help, but at least I want to do something

 

[TanisHalfElven]

Originally posted by: theprodigalrebel
Two words: retarded.

LOL. thats not TWO words

 

[iliopsoas]

Originally posted by: toolboxolio
Anyone start a petition to have this dousche disbarred?

someone start an online petition and we'll sign