With Great Venom Comes Great Responsibility.
April 15, 2016
No Immunity for Cop in K-9 Bite Case
May 16, 2016
Lola, a dachshund mix, died nine months after staying at a kennel. Now, the Georgia Supreme Court must determine the value of the deceased pet. Lola’s owners, the Monyaks, want to recover the $67,000 in expenses spent on Lola over her lifetime and also have the jury consider Lola’s “actual value” to the family.
Most state courts that have looked at this issue have determined that family’s cannot recover for “non-economic” damages. On the other hand, some state legislatures have passed laws allowing for non-economic damages in such cases; for example, in Tennessee, pet owners can recover up to $5000 “for the loss of the reasonably expected society, companionship, love and affection of the pet.”
For more information, see:
Karin Brulliard, The Washington Post, “How much is a pet dog worth? A court will soon decide” April 12, 2016, https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/animalia/wp/2016/04/12/how-much-is-a-pet-dog-worth-a-court-will-soon-decide/
#April2016 #pet #dog