Drycleaners in ‘Pants’ Suit Get Fundraiser to Cover Court Costs

By Anastacia Mott Austin

Infamous judge Roy Pearson, known for his unending quest to press his case in court over a lost pair of pants, will not go away.

Still steamed over losing the suit, he recently filed a motion for the judge in the case, who ruled in favor of the drycleaners, to reconsider her decision. Pearson will likely file an appeal as well.

As a result of over two years of legal wrinkles, Jin Nam and Soo Chung now owe over $100,000 in court costs, and have been on the brink of financial ruin.

The American Tort Reform Association has been following the case closely, and along with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institute for Legal Reform, hosted a cocktail party fundraiser for the drycleaning couple to help defray their costs.

According to planners for the event, as of press time the fundraiser had raised over $64,000, and more pledges of assistance were still coming in. More than 150 supporters attended the event. The story of the $54 million pants suit (the amount Roy Pearson eventually decided on for his claim) has received attention from all over the world, with many people shocked and disgusted that the lawsuit had been allowed to proceed as far as it did. ATRA felt that helping the Chung family with their court costs would also bring publicity for their organization, which fights for tort reform.

Representatives of both legal organizations spoke at the event, as well as Chris Manning, attorney for the Chungs. The couple, notoriously press shy, also spoke briefly and thanked the crowd for their support.

"Our motto is the spirit of free enterprise. The Chungs epitomize that in our perspective," said Lisa Rickard, president of the Institute for Legal Reform, one of the hosts of the fundraiser. "They’ve really been living the American dream, and that all came to a halt with the filing of this lawsuit."

"It’s our hope to help them do a course correction and get back on track," added Rickard, echoing the sentiments of the attendees, many of whom said they just wanted to see the couple iron out their legal problems.

The center of attention at the event was the pair of pants the Chungs say they found after Pearson filed his suit. The controversial pair of pants that started the whole ordeal was on display, protected by a security guard. Guests were able to view the pants, and have their photo taken with them if they wished.

"Without your support, the Chungs could very well have gone bankrupt," said the Chung’s attorney Chris Manning to the crowd.

Manning said further that if a court rules in favor of the Chungs’ request to have Roy Pearson pay all of their legal costs, the amount raised at the event will be donated to local charity.

Strangely, the famously publicity-hungry Pearson did not respond to a request for a comment.

He likely had other pressing matters to attend to.