DISTRICT BRIEFING

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

MISSING-PANTS CASE

Judge Sues City Over Job Loss

Roy L. Pearson Jr., whose $54 million lawsuit against a dry-cleaning business generated international attention, is suing the D.C. government, alleging officials broke the law when they did not reappoint him to the job of administrative law judge.

Pearson lost his lawsuit last year against Custom Cleaners, which he said had misplaced a pair of his pants. Then the commission that oversees administrative law judges declined to reappoint him to a 10-year term. The commission questioned his judgment and temperament during two years on the bench.

Administrative law judges hear cases involving city agencies and commissions. Pearson's suit against the city was first reported by the Washington Examiner.

In the lawsuit, filed last week in U.S. District Court, Pearson said that he had an "outstanding record" and that the commission illegally retaliated against him for speaking out about the court's management. Pearson, who is representing himself, wants his job, back pay and hundreds of thousands of dollars in damages.

According to the lawsuit, Pearson said he was suing for "emotional pain, embarrassment, humiliation, mental anguish, loss of professional reputation, and loss of enjoyment of life."

Peter J. Nickles, interim D.C. attorney general, said Pearson's lawsuit is "without merit." The District has no plans to settle and will "vigorously defend" itself, Nickles said. He also offered Pearson some advice. "He needs to stop filing lawsuits," he said.

-- Keith L. Alexander

4TH DISTRICT POLICE STATION

Woman Hangs Herself in Cell

A 32-year-old woman who was being held in a cell at a city police station hanged herself early yesterday, police said.

Shante Parker of the 5600 block of First Street NW used her pants to hang herself about 12:30 a.m. at the 4th District station, police said. She had been arrested on a charge of assault with a knife, police said.

-- Clarence Williams and Martin Weil

ST. ELIZABETHS DRUG THEFT

Ex-Pharmacist Is Sentenced

The former chief pharmacist at the District's St. Elizabeths Hospital for the mentally ill was sentenced yesterday to two years in prison for stealing $95,000 worth of medications from it.

Judge Emmet G. Sullivan also ordered the man, Raymond Jackson, 48, to pay $95,000 in restitution to the city.

Jackson, 48, was chief pharmacist at St. Elizabeths from 2002 to October 2006, when the thefts were discovered, prosecutors said. The stolen drugs were sold, prosecutors said. Jackson, of Waldorf, pleaded guilty Jan. 9 in U.S. District Court to a theft charge