Library cat attack spawns lawsuit

North County Times (SoCal) ^ | 11/28/01

[mountaineer]

Overlawyered.com.

[Cagey]

HOW TO BATHE THE CAT

1. Thoroughly clean the toilet.

2. Add the required amount of shampoo to the toilet water, and have both lids lifted.

3. Obtain the cat and soothe him while you carry him towards the bathroom.

4. In one smooth movement, put the cat in the toilet and close both lids (you may need to stand on the lid so that he cannot escape).

CAUTION: Do not get any part of your body too close to the edge, as his paws will be reaching out for any purchase they can find.

5. Flush the toilet three or four times. This provides a "powerwash and rinse" which I have found to be quite effective.

6. Have someone open the door to the outside and ensure that there are no people between the toilet and the outside door.

7. Stand behind the toilet as far as you can, and quickly lift both lids.

8. The now-clean cat will rocket out of the toilet, and run outside where he will dry himself.

Sincerely,

The DOG

[janus]

The issue isn't that the cat attacked my dog," Espinosa said Tuesday. "It's about the ability of somebody with a disability to freely access ....taxpayers' pockets.

[GalvestonBeachcomber]

Crap like this gives the legal system its rightfully deserved bad name.

[BoneHead]

Wow! How could a NativeNewYorker get to the (san diego)North County Times before anyone from California?(/silent awe)

I heard about this from the local talk radio denizen Roger Hedgecock. I want to know what the heck is the library doing with a cat? If this guy were only alergic to cats the instance could have been life threatening.

Freegards
Bonehead

[JRandomFreeper]

Espinosa suffers from numerous disabilities, including decreased lung function, permanent back disability, chronic pain syndrome, borderline personality disorder, major depressive disorder and panic disorder.

He's not blind. He's neurotic.

/john

[LibertyGirl77]

According to the lawsuit, Espinosa suffers from numerous disabilities, including decreased lung function, permanent back disability, chronic pain syndrome, borderline personality disorder, major depressive disorder and panic disorder.

Okay, so this guy is a nutcase with back problems? Why then, does he require an assistance dog? Does the dog specialize in psychotherapy, or is it a chiropractor?

[CindyDawg]

I saw this on tv awhile back. Tell them what his disability was before all this other was tacked on and what the dogs role was. (lol) By the way, if a cat attacked my dog like this I sure wouldn't tell anyone.

[Christian B]

I'm surprised that bestiality wasn't listed as one of his disabilities. Or is bestiality a domestic partners benefit?

[bluetoad]

Sounds like a case for Judge Judy...

[martin gibson]

The lawsuit also equates a sign on the library's door asking patrons not to bring animals except licensed guide dogs for the blind into the building with signs in the south before the federal Civil Rights Act that prevented black people from entering or using various facilities..

Now let me make sure I've got this straight: 'Dogs = Blacks', QED.

Is there anything I missed?

[dighton]

Great post, but I wonder what took the North County Times so long.

The suit was reported in the May 4 San Diego Union-Tribune and posted here.

[RichInOC]

And Kimba let the cat do that? What a wimp.

[Don Joe]

"According to the lawsuit, Espinosa suffers from numerous disabilities, including decreased lung function, permanent back disability, chronic pain syndrome, borderline personality disorder, major depressive disorder and panic disorder."

In other words, this guy is literally certifiable, but, still capable of playing the system like a violin.

My sympathies lie with the cat, and I commend it for its patience. If I was The Clawed One, I'd have gone after the perp, rather than the mere dog. :)

It's particularly disgusting the way the writer tries to lead in with wording designed to build sympathy by -- without saying the actual words -- painting a picture of a blind guy with a seeing eye dog, when in reality, this guy is like the btch who hornswaggled the airline into letting her take her "companion" swine on board.

Let's see now, I've got numerous disabilities, including decreased heart function, permanent back disability, chronic pain, etc. I wonder what I could milk the system for? Of course, I've got a major strike against me -- I'm sane.

On the other hand, I've got a huge Rottie who's built like a Soviet tank, and when he moves, he moves like a boulder going down a steep hill. I think he'd make a fine "companion animal" for a cranky old bastard like me. And if that's not enough, I think he needs a "companion animal" of his own too. I'm thinking the giant feral cat we rescued, with half his ear frozen off, gashed up from a fight with something easily twice his size (and he was evidently the winner). He fears nothing, has a full compliment of assault-claws, and, he and the dog are "bonded". Go figure. The two of 'em are like brothers in arms or something.

Yeah, I can see us now, limping down the street (I do walk with a cane, after all), with that "go ahead, make our day" look, waiting for some deep-pocketed fool to fatten the bank account by "offending" me.

Only in America...

[Liberal Classic]

According to the lawsuit, Espinosa suffers from numerous disabilities, including decreased lung function, permanent back disability, chronic pain syndrome, borderline personality disorder, major depressive disorder and panic disorder.

Espinosa's certified assistance dog, Kimba, a 55-pound female Labrador mix, has been "individually and specially trained to help Espinosa with his disabilities," according to the lawsuit.

I can't shake the feeling Espinosa is milking the system for all it's worth. How does the dog help with panic attacks? Does he pet it, and feel better?

Memories of the incident cause recurring "terror and fear" for Espinosa, exacerbating his depression, the lawsuit alleges.

Aaaugh!

*pat* *pat* *pat*

Ahhh I feel better.

[dighton]

Hmmmm. The North County Times calls Espinosa "a former North County Times staff writer."

The Union-Tribune, a bit more specific, says:

Espinosa, a former courts reporter for the North County Times, filed the claim himself after four lawyers declined to do it ...

[Black Agnes]

What if I'm allergic to dogs? What about MY ability to freely access the library w/o having an allergic/asthmatic reaction?

[janus]

Maybe the dog wallked into the...CATalog department by mistake.