Posted on 03/31/2008 8:00:24 PM PDT by Mr. Brightside
Brothers file claim in S.F. zoo tiger attack
March 29, 2008
The San Jose brothers who survived a Christmas Day tiger attack at the San Francisco Zoo are taking legal action against the city, arguing that they are owed an unspecified amount of money because of the zoo's negligence.
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In claims made public Friday, Los Angeles attorneys Mark Geragos and Shepard Kopp say that Kulbir Dhaliwal, 24, underwent surgery on both knees because of wounds he suffered in the attack. The claim also contends he was deprived of the use of his BMW M3, the car the three victims took to the zoo. Police impounded and only recently returned the car.
The Dhaliwals' claims also state that a public relations firm conducted a "smear campaign" against the brothers, humiliating and degrading them.
Sousa's family is awaiting a copy of the San Francisco police report before filing a claim against the city and the zoo, said attorney Jacqueline Fagerlin.
"The zoo has an absolute obligation to ensure that all of its animal enclosures are secure and safe, for two reasons," Fagerlin said. "One, it protects the patrons and the zoo, and two, it protects the animals. It's clear in this case that the enclosure was not safe. It was not secure and not up to standard and, as a result, we have a dead child, whose parents are suffering terribly over that, two other individuals seriously injured and a dead tiger."
Zoo officials found that the wall of the tiger enclosure was about 4 feet shorter than recommended by a national accreditation group.
That group, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, concluded that the zoo was dangerously understaffed and inadequately prepared for handling such an emergency that night, according to a report released earlier this month.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Mark Geragos. HAHAHAHAHAHA!
According to witnesses, these two (but not their companion, who got killed) were taunting the tiger. If it’s true that the companion wasn’t participating in the taunting, then these two idiots got their friend killed (AND got an endangered female tiger killed). And now they’re whining about the temporary loss of use of their BMW? Feed them to the tigers!
The claims were filed Thursday, the same day Paul Dhaliwal was arrested on suspicion of trying to steal two video-game controllers at a Target store in San Leandro.
It's really sad that the beautiful, rare tiger got killed in order to save these two sorry excuses for humans.
In retrospect, I now find myself rooting for the tiger.
Makes it sound like he was a two-year-old. In reality, he was a young adult hanging around idiot friends who teased and taunted a wild animal until, enraged, it attacked with lethal consequences.
The dead guy’s family should sue them since the report is he saved them and then when he was attacked, the brothers ran like cowards.
It's a lethal combination.
Actually I'd like to see a picture; a "Dalhiwal" sounds like a zoo animal in the first place.
Let's see how brave you would be after a Siberian tiger had YOUR head in his jaw, then left you to attack someone else.
What would be your barehanded strategy to take on the tiger if you were suffering from a head injury?
The police stated that there was NO evidence the men taunted the tiger.
The police stated that there was NO evidence the men taunted the tiger.
The police stated there was NO evidence of taunting.
“The police stated there was NO evidence of taunting.”
Lack of evidence and factually true are often two different things.
But that aside, unless someone did something proactively to enable that cat to get out it shouldn’t have been able to escape no matter how pissed off it was.
Totally agree.
The guy who died came back to save those who ran when he needed help.
The coroner also said Sousa died before he hit the ground.
Regardless, you are telling me that you would attack a 400 pound Siberian tiger barehanded to save your friend’s corpse?
Just wondering how you would do it...
Here you are dragging your wounded brother with one hand, fighting a Siberian tiger with the other. How do you even pick up your lifeless friend?
And do you really think that you could outrun the tiger? ... with your injured brother under one arm and your dead friend in the other?
Neither zoo officials, zoo employees nor the police would attempt to subdue the tiger without a weapon. But you would?
Get real.
It escapes you that the guy who died did just what you lampoon.
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