Judge Tosses Michigan Dog Bite Suit

October 15, 2009

A Detroit-area judge has tossed out a dog bite lawsuit that initially named a German shepherd as a defendant.

The suit brought by Inez Starks was dismissed by Macomb County Circuit Judge David Viviano.

Starks sued the city of Warren, several police officers and a police dog named Liberty.

The 56-year-old claims she suffered nerve damage since Liberty bit her during a confrontation among police, her daughter and others in April 2007.

Viviano previously had slapped Starks’ lawyer, Lawrence Radden, with a $500 fine for naming the dog as a defendant.

Raechel Badalamenti is an attorney representing the city. She tells The Macomb Daily “the judge got it right” by dismissing the suit. She says Warren will seek its legal fee.

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Latest Comments

  • October 16, 2009 at 8:04 am
    Scooby Doo says:
    Lassie was just defending herself.
  • October 16, 2009 at 8:01 am
    DblStndrd says:
    Yes, pets are considered property but trained law enforcement animals are considered officers of the law. There have been multiple cases in Ohio this year where police dogs ha... read more
  • October 15, 2009 at 4:38 am
    hmmmm says:
    Seriously Matt, you are comparing a trained police dog that is obeying a command to bring someone down the same as a dog that is out of control attacking someone? The story ... read more

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