A judge was in a Washington, D.C., court Tuesday, this time in the role of plaintiff in a $54-million US lawsuit against a dry cleaner who allegedly lost his pants.

Roy Pearson alleges that Jin Chung, Soo Chung and Ki Chung, owners of Custom Cleaners, committed fraud and misled consumers with signs that claimed "Satisfaction Guaranteed."

A woman holds up the pair of pants at the centre of the trial.
(CBC)

While the Chungs' lawyer argues no reasonable person would take that as an absolute guarantee, Pearson did, and set the price of his satisfaction at $67 million, although he has since lowered it to $54 million.

"This case is very simple. It's about one sign and the plaintiff's outlandish interpretation," said Chris Manning, the lawyer representing the Chungs.

Pearson is representing himself, claiming the millions for, among other things, mental distress. In the two years since the Chungs lost his pants, he's forwarded a number of legal motions.

He has refused to accept that the pants they eventually produced are his, and he's refused a $12,000 settlement offer.

Pearson said in his opening statement Tuesday that he wanted to examine the culture that allowed "a group of defendants to engage in bad business practices for five years."

He called several witnesses who testified that the Chung family was rude and sloppy — with one elderly customer even comparing them to Hitler.

Called himself as witness

Pearson also called himself as a witness, saying his problems began in May 2005 when he brought in several suits for alterations. A pair of pants from a blue and maroon suit was missing when he requested it two days later. He said Soo Chung tried to give him a pair of charcoal grey pants.

As Pearson explained that those weren't the pants for the suit, he choked up and left the courtroom crying after asking the judge for a break.

Despite Tuesday's testimony, customers at the strip mall where the Chungs dry clean clothes had only sympathy for the family

"They haven't did anything to me, and I do put my clothes there," said one customer. "And they do do good service. Fifty-four million dollars? Outrageous."

"All that money, when you can go to the store and get another pair of slacks for $25, $30? Unbelievable," said another customer.

Josh Kosla, owner of the Big Valu Liquor store next door, said the case should terrify any small business owner.

"I mean, you get scared. The first thing I did was I went to my insurance people: 'Hey, look, am I protected, am I safe?'"

The Chungs make their case Wednesday.

With files from the Associated Press