Woman Fined For Suing Police Dog

[proud2BlibKansan]

WARREN, Mich. -- An Eastpointe woman who sued a Warren police dog was fined by a judge to pay $500 for frivolously naming the dog as a defendant. She was also fined another $500 for failing to appear in Macomb County Circuit Court for a February hearing.

Inez M. Starks, 55, filed a lawsuit in August against the city of Warren and several police officers for a 2007 incident outside of her daughter's Warren home. During the altercation, Starks claimed she was bitten in the buttocks by the Warren police dog Liberty.

Starks said she was bitten by the German shepherd April 7, 2007, outside of her daughter's home during a confrontation between police, her daughter and others.

Police went to the home after receiving a truancy complaint against Stark's daughter involving her daughter's child. During the visit police found the woman's brother, who had an outstanding warrant. The dog was brought in because the man started to flee.

http://www.clickondetroit.com/news/19029795/detail.html#-

[Rabrrrrrr]

1. Sounds like a family the world could easily do without.

And we need more judges who will fine people for bringing stupid fucking lawsuits; though he should also be fining even more the lawyer who brought the case.

And after a few idiot lawsuits, the lawyers should be barred (so to speak) from practicing.

[kestrel91316]

2. How very medieval to sue a DOG! Back in the day, they used to

criminally try various livestock, including at least one pig, IIRC.

Sigh. The good old 1400's........

[ret5hd]

3. Isn't it just as ridiculous for a person to be charged with assaulting a police officer...

when the "police officer" is a horse or dog?

If an animal is an officer of the law in one instance, why not the other?

[bobburgster]

4. Excellent point!

If the lady who filed the suit wasn't involved in the mess, and was bitten by an unsecured police dog...she should sue IMO

[LisaL]

5. This is from the article.

"But according to the police report of the incident, no evidence that Starks was bitten was found."

[iamthebandfanman]

9. well if thats the case it shoulda been thrown out

but thats not what shes being fined for right?

shes being fined because suing a dog is looked at as nutty and a waste of time, not because she was lying about being bitten..

this woman is probably full of shit, but thats not what we are discussing

[iamthebandfanman]

8. thats what i was thinking.

these dogs arent treated or recognised as just an animal, they are given the rights of an officer of the law...

you cant have a double standard.

either they arent officers, or they are.
make up your minds.

[Sebastian Doyle]

6. I heard the dog has his own lawyer

....he's a real pit bull.

[etherealtruth]

7. My understanding is ...

....that the woman could not provide proof she had been bitten. I can't find an account where she provided medical evidence of a dog bite .... ????! If (iff)true, she should be fined for filing nuisance law suits.