nwasianweekly.com
June 30, 2007

Case of missing pants not worth time, money

It’s hard to understand how a pair of pants lost at the dry cleaners could lead to a $54 million lawsuit.

We’re not legal experts, but we think the judge in the case did the right thing on Monday by ruling in favor of the dry cleaners, a family of Korean immigrants. It was a matter of common sense. No pair of trousers, no matter how well-constructed or beloved it may be, is worth a multimillion-dollar legal battle. Nor is it worth tainting the reputation of the dry cleaners and causing weeks of stress and worry for all parties involved.

The plaintiff, Roy L. Pearson, went too far in taking the dry cleaners to court. Sure, they lost his pants, but that was no reason to take legal action. It could have been settled rationally and sensibly with Pearson being reimbursed for the value of the pants. He could have accepted the apology of the dry cleaners and moved on with his life. But no, he decided to take advantage of the American legal system.

Just because this country allows you to sue doesn’t mean you should.

Multimillion-dollar legal action should be reserved for serious, life-or-death matters, like employment discrimination, physical injury, and personal and business rights. A trial over a missing pair of pants is a waste of the court’s time. What citizen would want his or her tax dollars spent on a claim that could easily be settled out of court?

The plaintiff’s time and money could have been better spent on causes that truly make a positive difference. Knowing there are hungry, sick children in the world who wear the same clothes day in and day out, would he look at his lost pants in the same way? Knowing soldiers and civilians are dying every day in the Middle East, would he rethink the significance of these pants in his life?

This case made a mountain out of a molehill. We’re glad common sense prevailed.

Send correspondence to:
Northwest Asian Weekly • P.O. Box 3468 • Seattle • WA  98114
Tel: 206.223.5559 •  Fax: 206.223.0626 • Email: info@nwasianweekly.com
Please bookmark this site: www.nwasianweekly.com.