Judge awards $45,480 in cat's death

By Warren Cornwall and Craig Welch
Seattle Times staff reporters

Paula Roemer knows most people don't understand her passion for animals.

Some of her North Seattle neighbors aren't thrilled about the crows she attracts to her back yard with bird seed, she says. When she rescued a scraggly kitten abandoned on a pathway while she was vacationing in Israel 13 years ago, people reacted with disdain.

So when a neighbor's dog mauled and killed that same beloved cat, Yofi, last year, Roemer barely mentioned it to people she knew. But now she feels that she found one person who understood: a judge.

Last week, Seattle District Court Judge Barbara Linde ordered the dog's owner to pay $45,480.12 to Roemer for the cat's death.

"Not too many [people] value a cat," said Roemer, a retired, 71-year-old former junior-high-school teacher, who lives alone except for her animals. "You know what I'm saying: 'It's just a cat.' And I'm very, very thankful we had a judge who knew that a cat had some value."

The judgment may be among the largest amounts nationwide in lawsuits over the loss of pets, according to Roemer's attorney, Adam Karp of Bellingham, a specialist in cases involving animals.

"I do think it's the largest in our state for any type of animal, excluding, say, a Thoroughbred or other commercially valuable pets, or service animals," Karp said. "And I'm pretty sure it's the largest for a cat."

Okay, I'm about to puke my breakfast over my keyboard.

I had to re-read the post.I thought the Judge gave the money to the dogs owner.
That would have been justice.

People have just got to stop hitting judges in the head!!! See what it leads to.

What happens when the dog dies from a hairball, I'm thinking about 1 million: 100 bucks to repay for the cost of the dog and 999900 for thanking the owners of having such a wonderful pet.

That's very sickening. Be wary people,,pandoras box has just been opened.I really hate crats,,Clay

Now THERE's a judge who is politicking for an appointment to the 9th Circuit Court.

Best I can tell liberalism is a mental illness which qualifies them for federal aid and protection under the Americans with Disabilities Act. My bet is the judge won't eat Spotted Owl soup either. These people are destroying MY country and I don't like it!!!

quote:

Reply

The effort to take the country back from liberalism, socialism, communism will likely take as long as the WOT. Most have lost their connection to the land, common sense, and morality. These understandings will be even harder to relearn.

quote:

Originally posted by N. S. Sherlock:

quote:

Reply

The effort to take the country back from liberalism, socialism, communism will likely take as long as the WOT. Most have lost their connection to the land, common sense, and morality. These understandings will be even harder to relearn.

True

I fear you are right.

The folks around where I live touch the land everyday and they show common sense in their everyday lives because it is all they know. The biggest problem I had today was how to cut up the steer we hung in the cooler...just like last year!! 1350 lbs on the hoof of grade A black angus...damn...I can feel my arteries cloggin up already!!

If we act and live what is right, liberalism doesn't have a chance. If that don't work...shoot em!!

Ahh, those people...big heart, no brain, too bad they manage to reproduce.

Dan

Pres., TYHC

http://www.Cheap.Pussy

$480.12

Was that the cost to fly that mangy puffball across the ocean?

quote:

...Judge Barbara Linde...

I knew it was going to be a woman judge.


I bet she lives alone with a dozen cats.

$45,480 yea...wow...I thought I was somewhat principled but now...ouch who pinched me where am I

Seattle is full of freaks, geeks, weirdos and queers.

What is the story on that wierdo deer JB! derf

Sorry, guys. I'm about to make myself as popular as a skunk at a lawn party (to use an old expression). I agree with all the sentiments stated by you guys - but maybe they don't apply to this case. This is a an old lady who lives alone except for animals that she seems to have rescued. I fully agree that the AMOUNT of the award to her was excessive -but was she entitled to nothing? I don't know -and I don't think you guys know either. Was the dog a trespasser on the old lady's property? Could the dog's owner have restrained the pup? Something got this judge angry enough to make such an award. Maybe it would have gotten me angry - and I was regularly shooting hunting house cats probably long before any of you guys were born. Just my thoughts.

Its possible something about the case set the judge off, but most likely a liberal sap to even consider awarding anything over $1000.00 for a cat and even that would be considered punitive, if the dog was in her yard... in the jurisdiction I live in lethal force is justifiable against dogs destroying property or harrassing domestic animals. If her cat was in the dog owners yard then this judgement is simply ridiculous. But then the article doesnt answer alot of these questions and this is the crat hunting forum...