My neighbor is suing another neighbor after being attacked by their dog, and I'm wondering about some legal advice that the victim was given

[Just Blue]

I don't know. My wife really likes Queen Latifah.

Ahhh...But does she like her in "that way"???

 

[quincy]

Ahhh...But does she like her in "that way"???

At times I think she'd consider Queen Latifah a big improvement over what she's currently stuck with.

 

[Just Blue]

At times I think she'd consider Queen Latifah a big improvement over what she's currently stuck with.

She loves you dearly. You are a very lovable guy.

 

[adjusterjack]

We actually don't know that.

I know it.

 

[quincy]

I know it.

Ahh. Well that changes everything.

 

[Just Blue]

I know it.

What the Mega Millions # for tomorrow?

 

[PayrollHRGuy]

02 56 24 14 12 30 40

 

[LdiJ]

We actually don't know that.

I agree. I can see some possibility that the owners of the dog could make a court feel sorry for them because they had to accept putting down the beloved family dog...while I can also see that same court slamming them with huge punnies if they were ordered to remove the dog from the area if they did not do so.

 

[Taxing Matters]

So my question is this: Was that guy correct? Would it really have resulted in the neighbor being awarded a lower amount of money from the lawsuit if the dog was put down, as Animal Control had wanted to do?

I think it rather unlikely. I don't practice in GA, but in the states I am familiar with the decision by the county and the court on putting down the dog would make no difference to the outcome in a personal injury lawsuit. Indeed, the fact that the dog was put down after would not even be admissible in my state in the personal injury case. Perhaps GA has a different rule on that, but it would be unusual.

 

[quincy]

I agree. I can see some possibility that the owners of the dog could make a court feel sorry for them because they had to accept putting down the beloved family dog...while I can also see that same court slamming them with huge punnies if they were ordered to remove the dog from the area if they did not do so.

The community views on euthanizing dogs could play a role as could other factors, including the dog's role in its owner's life (e.g., show dog, service dog, etc).

It is impossible to say, with the little we know, why the attorneys believed the dog's euthanasia would make a difference in the amount of damages that might be awarded in the civil action. But if the attorneys recommended that the dog not be euthanized, and the judge agreed with their recommendation, obviously there was some reasoning behind it.