Clients – Text
Check unknown vocabulary before you read the text:
lawsuit – an action or a suit brought before a court
to dismiss – stop or close; reject
damages – a sum of money paid in compensation for loss or injury
to claim – require (strongly want) as a right
unconditional – not limited by conditions; absolute
warranty – a guarantee of quality
interpreter – a person who provides an oral translation between speakers who speak different languages
trial – a legal process by which a person is judged in a court of law
fraudulent advertising – advertising which is not honest and based on facts which are not true
to argue – present reasons for or against a thing
reasonable – rational; willing to listen to argument; acting with good sense
to demand – ask for; require as necessary
common sense – practical good sense (way of thinking)
$54 Million Lawsuit Over Missing Trousers
A judge in the District of Columbia has dismissed a case against a dry cleaner who wanted $54 million in damages over a pair of missing trousers.
Roy L. Pearson originally wanted $67 million from the Chung family, owners of Custom Cleaners. He claimed they lost a favorite pair of his trousers and later tried to give him a pair that were not his.
The "Satisfaction Guaranteed" sign in the store window made Mr Pearson expect he would be given good service. He claimed that the sign was an unconditional warranty that required the Chung family to respect any claim by any customer without limitation.
At a news conference in front of Custom Cleaners, Soo Chung said through an interpreter that she was "very pleased" with the verdict. She said she and her husband had no plans to move back to Korea.
When asked if she would accept Pearson as a future customer, Soo Chung said through her translator, "If he wants to continue to use our services, then yes, they would accept him as a customer."
Pearson defended himself during a two-day trial earlier this month and claimed millions of dollars in damages for what he claimed was fraudulent advertising.
The Chungs' lawyer argued that no reasonable person would interpret the sign to mean an unconditional promise of satisfaction. “A reasonable consumer would not interpret 'Satisfaction Guaranteed' to mean that a businessman has to satisfy a customer's unreasonable demands."
The judge said that, while consumers should be protected, lawsuits like this would not be tolerated. He chose common sense over irrationality.
Soo Chung said during the trial that "economically and emotionally, it has been extremely hard for us." She started the business with her husband after they moved to the United States in 1992.