US dry cleaner gets on Santa's naughty list losing his suit

How to get on Santa’s naughty list? Just lose his suite.

Photo: US dry cleaner gets on Santa's naughty list losing his suit

After Christmas last year, Max Weisberg took his red velvet suit to Royal Cleaners, which accidentally gave it to someone else. The family-owned business acknowledged the mixup and offered to pay him half the value of the nearly $400 ( EUR 278) suit, Jean Hwang, who said she is the owner's sister, told the AP.

Weisberg, 54, a civilian employee of the Navy, took the business to small claims court and won a $396.50 ( EUR 275.48) judgment to cover the suit and court costs.

But he had to collect the money himself. So Weisberg decided to do it with flair. His wife's public-relations firm notified the media that he would drop by the shop.

Donning a new red velvet suit with soft white trim and shiny black boots, a jolly Weisberg burst into the dry cleaners Monday, television cameras rolling.

"Merry Christmas! Have you been a good girl?" he asked a smiling Hwang. She promised to put the check in the mail to Weisberg the next day.

Weisberg, who has been playing Santa at events for about a dozen years, made a promise, too: If it did not arrive, he would be back to protest again.