Judge Who Sued Dry Cleaners Over Missing Pants Facing Ethics Charges

pants off It’s been several years since we’ve checked in on former ALJ Roy Pearson, the D.C. ex-pseudo-jurist who sued his dry cleaners for $67 million — later reduced to a more reasonable $54 million — for losing his pants. Which they ultimately found, but that he claimed weren’t his real pants. It was a humdinger of a trial to follow, complete with the former judge breaking down in tears over the mental suffering he suffered. The f**king Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants didn’t care that much about trousers.

Well, Pearson is back in the news as D.C. disciplinary prosecutors argue that Pearson should be punished for his conduct during that trial.

Disciplinary prosecutors in Washington, D.C. contend that Pearson presented arguments unsupported by facts or the law, delayed court proceedings and interfered with the administration of justice. Pearson denies violating attorney conduct rules, describing the ethics case as a “slap stick, ludicrous and nightmarish reality.”

On June 3, a hearing committee of the D.C. Board on Professional Responsibility found Pearson committed two ethics violations. (It cleared him of intentionally causing delays in the case.) The committee recommended a suspension of 30 days, stayed in favor of two years probation. The committee said that the disciplinary prosecutors’ recommendation of a 90-day suspension was too severe.

The case will go before the Board on Professional Responsibility, which makes recommendations to the final arbiter, the D.C. Court of Appeals.

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By The MyCase Team

Pearson had best don his magic pants for that showdown.

Why did it take six-and-a-half years to get around to bringing this case? No one really knows! Bang-up system you have there, Washington. It takes a lot to make Pearson out to be a sympathetic figure, but dredging this up over six years later to derail his efforts to stitch his professional reputation back together? That just seems low. Regardless of how ridiculous this lawsuit was, if there haven’t been any subsequent complaints, maybe just give the guy some repose.

Maybe this is why D.C. lawyers deserve to make less money…

Ex-Judge Who Sued Dry Cleaners Over Lost Pants Faces Ethics Charges [Law.com]
Tearful Testimony in $54 Million Pants Lawsuit [ABC News]