The 64 Million Pants

When the local Washington D.C. dry cleaner lost Roy Pearson’s pants, he was not happy. He complained, demanded compensation, and took action. And boy, did he take action. Roy Pearson is suing Custom Cleaners for $65,462,500 for his lost pair of trousers, with a claimed value of $800.

So how did Pearson get to a $65 million lawsuit from an $800 pair of trousers? Washington’s consumer protection law provides for damages of $1,500 per violation per day. Pearson began multiplying: 12 violations over 1,200 days, times three defendants. A pant leg here, a pant leg there, and soon, he’s up to his $65 million lawsuit.