Personal injury solicitors news
26/06/2007

Epic trousers saga ends in tears

An American judge who acted as his own personal injury solicitor in order to try and claim compensation for trousers he alleges were lost by dry cleaners has lost his case.

After two days representing himself as a personal injury solicitor, the judge had his compensation claim bluntly thrown out by a Washington court.

Amazingly, the man was seeking $54 million (£27 million) for the loss of a pair of trousers that were not worth more than $500.

This figure included more than $50 million in fines for what he says were misleading signs in the shop window which read 'satisfaction guaranteed' and 'same-day service'.

In a money-grab which was typical of his compensation claim, he was also claiming $500,000 for legal fees, even though he was representing himself as his own personal injury solicitor.

The man even broke down in tears as he recounted the story of how he went to pick up his trousers from the dry cleaners only to be given a pair that did not belong to him.

He may now be liable to pay around $100,000 in the defendant's legal costs.