Cat Beats Up Dog, Traumatized Man Sues for $1,500,000.⁰⁰

May 8, 2001 Escondido, California, USA

I hereby nominate for the Most Embarrassing Human of the Year award, Mr. Richard R. Espinosa of San Marcos, California.

As if being beat up by a cat weren't shameful enough, the poor little dog Kimba now has to be reminded of it over and over, in the newspapers, the TV and the courtroom, in what may very well turn out to be the most sensationally stupid court case since Beth, the toothless dog, was charged with being criminally dangerous (read "'Dangerous Dog' Found Not Guilty—on the Grounds that She Has No Teeth").

On November 16, 2000, Richard Espinosa entered the Escondido Public Library with his service dog Kimba, a 50-pound Labrador mix.  The library's mascot L.C. (Library Cat) allegedly started a brawl with the pooch and basically beat the living Byron out of him.

Kimba suffered some scratches to the nose as well as some claw marks to the neck and chest.  (Wow, those librarians must really be cracking down on overdue books these days.)

Espinosa has produced records verifying that the veterinary bill was $46.49 to have the dog treated.

He has therefore decided to sue the City of Escondido for $1.5 million (USD).

L.C. (Library Cat) has been the pride & joy of the Escondido Library since 1996.  She even has her own special gallery on the library's website.

Espinosa, a 47-year-old, mentally-disordered individual (hey, he said it, not me!) has suffered from panic disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder.  Kimba is a highly intelligent, specially-trained service dog who remains with Espinosa at all times, being able to sense the man's impending anxiety attacks in ample time to warn him to take preventative measures.

When L.C. and Kimba got into their scuff last year, Espinosa claims to have been stricken with a panic attack, being "barely able to stagger with Kimba to a bench," for lack of assistance from the library staff.

Since then the man has complained of "significant lasting, extreme and severe mental anguish and emotional distress including, but not limited to, terror, humiliation, shame, embarrassment, mortification, chagrin, depression, panic, anxiety, flashbacks, nightmares, loss of sleep (and) loss of full enjoyment of life as well as other physical and mental afflictions and pain, suffering..."

Editor's note: Don't forget "floods, fire, frost, and frippery." 

Espinosa also added to the list a chiropractor's bill for $38.

In a 40-page claim he filed himself (after four lawyers refused to touch it), the man punctiliously details every hiss, claw, lunge and bite rained upon his dog by the marauding cat.  Here is a short excerpt from the man's report:

"The cat casually stretched and jumped to the floor where it touched noses with Kimba, who reacted to the cat with curiosity but with no hostile manner whatsoever.

"The feline then suddenly and without provocation began hitting and clawing Kimba with both front paws with claws extended while screeching, pausing briefly and then renewing the attack.

"The cat then paused briefly again before attacking a third time: the last time with all four paws with claws extended at some point and firmly embedded into Kimba's head and neck areas with the feline hanging from the canine..."

Hey, wait a minute.

I thought he was "barely able to stagger with Kimba to a bench."  40 pages of testimony?  That's a darned good memory for someone who's having a severe mental seizure, wouldn't you say?

§§§

^Articles