Picture this…

You are an owner of a dry cleaning store. Somehow one of your customer’s suit jacket/pants gets lost by mistake. You offer a refund of the dry cleaning bill ($10) and the cost for a new suit. The customer refuses, and sometime later, goes to court to sue for $67 million to cover “mental suffering, inconvenience and discomfort” and a falsely advertised “Satisfaction Guarantee” promise.

Ridiculous, isn’t it?

Well, this is the type of case that makes one say… “It only happens in America”. And it [1] did really happen to Korean immigrants Jin and Soo Chung and their son, who own Custom Cleaners and two other dry cleaning shops in the Fort Lincoln section of Washington, D.C. The person suing them is Roy Pearson, a local judge in the Washington, D.C area.

Did I mention that the Mr. Pearson also wants 10 years of weekend car rentals to transport his pants to another store.

“People in America are now scared of each other,” legal expert Philip Howard told ABC News’ Law & Justice Unit. “That’s why teachers won’t put an arm around a crying child, and doctors order unnecessary tests, and ministers won’t meet with parishioners. It’s a distrust of justice and it’s changing our culture.”

This case had been going on for 2 years and the poor Koreans had to pay extensive legal costs and were forced to close their stores. It’s a case of legal bullying and utter waste of tax payers’ dollars. This civil case should not even have been allowed to go this far as it should have been thrown out by the mere absurd nature — something is really wrong with our legal system!

It also shows how much compassion and heart this judge has. A judge should set a good example by trying to prevent legal suits of this nature instead of encouraging them. His state of mind as a legal figure is definitely in question.

If these are the type of legal figures chosen to judge our public cases justly and without biasness, then I would say that our legal system is in shambles and in need of a big shakeup. It is already considered bad, frivolous and unjust… the very American system and constitution of our forefathers can might as well be torn up. We might as well not have a legal court system and resort to judging like cavemen.

Throughout the whole experience, Mr. and Mrs. Chung have since suffered huge financial and mental anguish. With their disenchantment in the legal system, they are now considering moving back to Seoul as their lives have been destroyed by this ordeal.

This story does have a happy ending though. The Koreans [2] won their case last month when the residing court judge ruled in their favor. They are now contemplating suing Mr. Pearson for all the legal fees they have incurred during the 2 years. With this ridiculous act of legal bullying and abuse of power from a man in his position, Judge Pearson may face more than just that — he may not be reappointed within the local courts when his 10 year contract is up soon.

I still can’t comprehend how the $67 million and the 10 years worth of weekend rental figures came about within this lawsuit.

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.”

I believe in Karma. No matter what, everything you do in life will eventually come full circle. To wreck someone’s life and take away their livelihood as Judge Pearson did is just not right and sinful. He may have something coming to him (sometime in his lifetime) if it has not already done so.

Mr. and Mrs. Chung, on behalf of the American people, I am embarrassed at our legal system and deeply apologize for how the system has betrayed you. I would like to wish you and your family the best and good luck for the future (whatever it may be).