Many pet owners have had to entrust the care of their furry family members to a kennel or daycare while they travel for work or leisure. Sadly, these boarding houses are prone to negligence, which can result in the death of a beloved pet. In a recent article, Lifehacker consulted numerous legal experts, including Simeone & Miller, LLP’s managing partner Thomas Simeone to gain insight into the legal options available to grieving pet owners.
As an award-winning lawyer who receives many calls in relation to deceased pets, Attorney Simeone told Lifehacker that unfortunately, the legal options available to pet owners are limited. Most state laws in the United States classify pets as personal property, which means that pet owners can only recover compensation for “repair” costs, which largely amounts to veterinarian bills. If a pet cannot be saved, pet owners are limited to recovering the value of the pet on the date the negligence occurred and any veterinary bills incurred in trying to save the pet. Pet owners may also seek compensation for any other costs spent attempting to heal their pets.
Although many people consider their pets to be important members of the family, compensation for these claims is limited to economic damages. Pet owners cannot sue for emotional distress or pain and suffering because pets are legally designated as property.
If pet owners still want to hold the negligent party accountable, they will have to prove the following to have their claim granted:
- The daycare or kennel owed a reasonable standard of care
- This obligation was breached
- The breach caused injury to their pet
As a trial attorney and managing partner at Simeone & Miller, LLP, Attorney Simeone has served as lead trial counsel many times and has won millions of dollars in compensation for clients. In fact, his work in winning injury victims multi-million-dollar jury verdicts and settlements earned him a membership to the exclusive Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. In addition, he is renowned by Super Lawyers®, Lawdragon 500, the National Trial Lawyers, Martindale-Hubbell, and many more.
To schedule a consultation with Attorney Simeone, contact Simeone & Miller, LLP online.