$64 million dollar claim for lost trousers
A Washington judge takes some suits to a dry cleaners for alterations. He returns two days later to collect them. But according to Judge Pearson something is wrong. And he is very upset
‘They tried to give me a pair of charcoal grey trousers,’ a tearful Pearson later tells a court. ‘My pants had had red and blue stripes!’
At the time he asks Custom Cleaners for the full price of his suit. ‘It cost over $1,00 dollars!’
Custom Cleaners are a small family business. They don’t want to pay $1,000. They insist the grey trousers are the ‘lost’ ones. ‘These are the pants you gave us!’ they say.
Satisfaction
Guaranteed?
Judge Pearson disagrees. He goes to court to claim
compensation. Now he wants more than
$1,000. In fact he asks for US $64 million.
You might think $64 million buys a lot of trousers. You
could buy a trouser factory and still have plenty of
change. So how did Judge Pearson justify his claim?
His case is that the Custom Cleaners have not honoured the
‘Satisfaction Guaranteed’ sign above their
counter. This has caused Judge Pearson ‘mental
suffering, inconvenience and discomfort’.
Naturally, it will take millions of dollars to rebuild
his life.
Plus there are his legal costs. Judge Pearson has hired
himself as a lawyer. And he doesn’t come cheap!
The
Ruling
The judge in the case rules in favour of Custom Cleaners.
‘Satisfaction guaranteed,’ she writes in her
ruling, does not apply to ‘a customer’s
unreasonable demands.’
