Washington, D.C. pants plaintiff doesn't want to pay opponents' attorney fees

WASHINGTON -- A judge who lost a $54 million lawsuit against his former dry cleaner is fighting the cleaners' attempts to collect attorney fees from him.

Roy L. Pearson filed an opposition to the defendants' motion for attorneys' fees Friday, saying he shouldn't have to pay the $82,907.50 that the Chung family owes to defend themselves against his 2005 lawsuit.

His opposition "is yet another example of his irrational crusade against the Chungs. His arguments are meritless," defense attorney Chris Manning wrote in an e-mail.

Pearson did not immediately reply to an e-mail requesting comment.

Pearson, a local administrative law judge, had claimed that the "Satisfaction Guaranteed" sign that once hung in the Chungs' shop was misleading and violated the D.C. consumer protection act. A pair of his pants went missing, but a week later, the store owners said they were found.

Pearson denied that they were his and sued. The lawsuit originally demanded $67 million, but was reduced to $54 million. The case went to trial in June and a D.C. Superior Court judge ruled in favor of the Chungs, the owners of Custom Cleaners.