Theater of the absud

[resqgeek]

Have you heard about the lawsuit going on here in DC? The one where the DC Administrative Judge is suing a dry cleaner for $54 million over a pair of pants? I'm sorry, I just don't understand how a dry cleaner misplacing your pants is worth anything even remotely close to that kind of damages. According to an article in the NY Times, the cleaners offered a $12,000 (!!) settlement, which the plaintiff declined. You could buy a lot of very nice pants with $12,000, so it seems to me that this isn't really about the pants, is it?

Of course, the owners of the dry cleaners are apparently not particularly likable people, but if they lose this case, I'm sure it puts them out of business. Which seems like a harsh penalty to pay for losing a single pair of pants. Honestly, I have trouble understanding how this case even made it to trial. Shouldn't the judge be able to throw a case like this out as being a extravagant waste of time and court resources?

And what's up with the crying on the stand? Over a pair of pants? I'm sorry, I'm just not that attached to my clothing...

Comments

[miketroll.livejournal.com]

Reminds me of the recent British case of a 6-figure salary boss in a London corporation giving his secretary a hard time after she spilled ketchup on his suit. He aggressively demanded payment of some trivial sum like £4 for cleaning.

She replied to this by e-mail, apologising for her delay in dealing with this important issue, as she had been tied up with lesser matters like her mother's terminal illness and funeral.

This e-mail exchange was leaked to the press and the boss lost his job.

Maybe this is a pointer for your case!