Family sues for $1.6m after dog run over

A LANDMARK case in the United States could redefine the legal value of pets, as one family attempts to sue their neighbour for $1.6 million (£850,000) over the death of a dog.

In addition to economic and punitive damages, Mark Greenup and his family in Estacada, Oregon, are asking a jury to award them compensation for the loss of the companionship of their pet, which died after being run over by a neighbour.

Loss of companionship is a claim typically reserved for human relationships in US law.

Legal experts are closely watching the case. They say if the family wins the lawsuit and any subsequent appeals, it could help break the long-standing tradition of defining pets as property.

"Society recognises that there can be a strong bond with people and their animals," explained Sonia Waisman, a Los Angeles attorney and the co-author of an animal law casebook.

"A number of courts have said this but they stopped short and said pets are property," she said.

Grizz, a cocker spaniel and Labrador retriever mix, was run over by Raymond Weaver in 2004 and had to be put down.

Weaver's attorney said the incident was an accident.

But Mr Greenup and his family say Weaver drove over Grizz several times and did not stop when they called out to him or when they tried to drag the dog out from under the truck.

A county court convicted Weaver of animal abuse and reckless endangerment of another person last year in the criminal case.

A jury trial for the civil case began yesterday to decide if the family should be compensated.

In such lawsuits, pet owners are typically compensated for the value of the animal and specific expenses such as veterinary care.

Geordie Duckler, the attorney for the Greenup family, said he is confident he can persuade the jury that the relationship merits further value and open the door for other wronged pet owners.

"A pet is something more than property and people deal with pets differently than TVs or cars," Mr Duckler said. "People who wouldn't be distressed over the loss of a car would be at the loss of a dog."

The judge could still decide to dismiss the claim, but the fact that it has moved this far is notable, said Laura Ireland Moore, the executive director of the National Centre for Animal Law at Oregon's Lewis and Clark Law School.

"Animal law is a really a growing field of law," explained Ms Ireland Moore. "It is expanding quickly in recognition that our laws do not adequately reflect relationships with animals."