Judge Awards $45,480 In Cat's Death

Seattle Times ^ | May 9, 2005 | Warren Cornwall and Craig Welch

[planekT]

This isn't justice. The judge is looney.

[MeekOneGOP]

Thank you. :)

[ChefKeith]

Greer?

[Not A Snowbird]

"due in part to my negligence.... I'm sorry she lost her cat, but I had no control over it...

So.... which is it?

[neutrino]

And if she tries to enter his house, I hope he uses his second amendment rights. This woman and judge are wackos.

Please notice that my posting presumed a lawful court order, being executed by a law enforcement officer. Perhaps you should reconsider your position, as some might interpret it as advocating something you surely do not mean to suggest.

[SolidRedState]

I like cats. But I know of no cat worth that much money.

[neutrino]

the cat was property and the owner should be reimbursed the exact amount she had it insured for up to $500. (as no cat is worth more than that)

Clearly, the court disagreed. I applaud the court's decision.

Judgements like this are what lead to little old ladies houses being burned down.

Are you suggesting that the dog owner would engage in criminal activities such as arson and attempted murder? I wouldn't doubt it.

After all if the innocent dog owner (he didn't kill the cat after all) has his life ruined for a minor animal control violation he may as well take someone down with him.

No, not innocent. Rather, guilty of negligence, an established legal concept.

Furthermore, were he to decide to "take someone down with him", it would indicate that he had latent criminal tendencies. Why coddle such potential murderers?

I mean it's not like he shot the property.

So, if a drunk driver passed out at the wheel, and his car smashed into your nearest and dearest, you would advocate that he be excused? After all, he didn't consciously kill them - he was asleep at the wheel.

No, the court decided wisely. I do hope that the judgment is executed diligently.

[Tungenchek]

Sheesh this guy is lucky... this cat owner went to court instead of hiring a hit man or something... LOL

I know several old ladies..including my mom (88yrs old) who would have beat the dog and dog owner to death with her walking stick.. :o)

[Teacher317]

the dog came on your property? It must be yours. Take it for a nice long ride out to the country (or better yet the middle of the big city) a hundred miles or so away and drop it off at the animal shelter. (or off a bridge, I'm easy) Problem solved

Does that also follow for children? How about endangered species? The UPS truck?

[Slings and Arrows]

Kitty justice ping!
---
Kitty Ping List alert!

[Freepmail me to get on or off the Kitty Ping List.]

[nina0113]

the cat was property and the owner should be reimbursed the exact amount she had it insured for up to $500. (as no cat is worth more than that)

You haven't priced Maine Coons or Bengals lately, have you? I had a Maine Coon that I got from a shelter (w/o papers); when he died of old age I looked into getting another one, and even pet-quality are more than $500. Bengals are the ones that look like teeny weeny leopards and tigers, and they start at $700 and keep right on going.

[andyandval]

And sorry for all the pings today, guys.

Never apologize for pinging me! Highlight of my day. Just busy at work. Glad somebody's minding the store!

:D

[John O]

The guy is getting shafted for a cat. Doesn't the absurdity of that register to you at all. It's exactly like accidently backing over someone's garbage can and having to pay $25,000 in damages.

[John O]

Does that also follow for children?

Children are not property (unless you're with PETA)

How about endangered species?

Absolutely. Shoot. Shovel. Shut-Up

The UPS truck?

If he illegally parked his truck on your property you have every right to have it towed away

[John O]

OK. I've always just owned regular cats. Up the award to say $1000 then.

[beaversmom]

Excuse me, but I would hardly classify a child with a parrot, hamster, or cat.

Ingrid Newkirk must be a poster at FR.

[BlackRazor]

Gee, I may just have to go get myself a cat...

[beaversmom]

Thanks for the ping. I like cats and I'm sorry her cat was killed but this judgment is ridiculous.

[BlackRazor]

I applaud the court's decision.

How do you justify the amount of the award, though -- $45,000. Why not $4,500? Why not $450,000? How do you arrive at that particular figure? Shouldn't there be some objective criteria for making awards? I can't find any in this case.

[vetvetdoug]

This is insane. The cat was loose. The dog was loose. The dog was at fault, not the owner, so the dog should be held liable for the infraction, not the owner. The dog, having been proved to be a killer, should be put down. If the dog owes any money then the dog should pay for the criminal activity. Now the owner was very irresponsible for letting the dog run loose. The dog killed a cat and there should be a criminal case, not a civil case. Even human murder cases there is only criminal prosecution, not civil case proceedings. I'd say there needs to be an appeal and a judge needs to find a new job.