I'm being sued for breaking a window to save a dog's life - General

Alright so today when I was out shopping, I came across someone's car and they had a dog in there. Hyperventilating, crying, clearly in distress, without hesitation I find a big rock and break his window to save the dog's life. Then I pour the water bottle I had at the time (it was a hot day, was absolutely horrible in the car) onto my hand and the dog is extremely thankful. Two minutes later, this big tattooed biker looking dude comes at me yelling "what the fuck"?! At this point everyone is siding with me. I tell him "your dog was fucking dying in there man" "Who's going to pay for my fucking window?!" "You will, asshole (a lady watching this thing go down)" The guy calls the cops, Cops arrive, people have stuck around and I tell the story. They ask the guy if he wants to press charges, make a complaint and/or get my information for a lawsuit or whatever, he does, they take down my information and I'll be hearing back about it later. The guy comes up to me and says "You're going to pay for that you little shit, I'm making sure of it" and I tell him "Good luck, we'll see how fast the jury tells you to fuck off" and I left it at that. The guy had a wedding band on too so I'd imagine the guy would back off so he doesn't make himself look like a total cunt but I guess not. Luckily I got the people's information who saw this go down, I really doubt I'll have to pay a cent because who's going to punish someone for saving a dog's life? Never stepped a foot inside a courtroom but I'd imagine I shouldn't be worried. What do you guys think?

You did the right thing. Good job buddy

You did the right thing, and I'm pretty sure you're also going to be safe. Isn't there a law against leaving dogs inside cars?

You did do a good thing by saving the dog but you did cause damage to property and you will most likely have to pay for it. This will most likely be handled just by a judge rather than a trial by jury since this will be going to small claims court. Even though you did save a dog's life, the value of an animal's life is valued a lot less than a human so gaining any sympathy for saving the dog's life will be limited if you get any at all. You will most likely have to pay for the window in some amount since you did cause damage to the plaintiff's property. Next time you come across a situation like this, I suggest looking for the owner of the vehicle before trying to get the animal out.

[QUOTE=mcattack1092;46163230]You did do a good thing by saving the dog but you did cause damage to property and you will most likely have to pay for it. This will most likely be handled just by a judge rather than a trial by jury since this will be going to small claims court. Even though you did save a dog's life, the value of an animal's life is valued a lot less than a human so gaining any sympathy for saving the dog's life will be limited if you get any at all. You will most likely have to pay for the window in some amount since you did cause damage to the plaintiff's property. Next time you come across a situation like this, I suggest looking for the owner of the vehicle before trying to get the animal out.[/QUOTE] Luckily the woman involved took video so if it comes to that, I'll be able to prove that there was no time to search around since it was in a mall parking lot and the dog was about to die. In the video I even say that it must have been a hundred and twenty degrees in there so that'll help if it comes to that.

IS the video begin uploaded to youtube?

[QUOTE=Rustic7;46163263]IS the video begin uploaded to youtube?[/QUOTE] If it was, I haven't found it. I have her contact info though.

[QUOTE=Korova;46163251]Luckily the woman involved took video so if it comes to that, I'll be able to prove that there was no time to search around since it was in a mall parking lot and the dog was about to die. In the video I even say that it must have been a hundred and twenty degrees in there so that'll help if it comes to that.[/QUOTE] You are lucky someone did film the incident as video evidence is seen as one of the most reliable form evidence over the evidence of witnesses' accounts of events. Getting any witnesses to attend the case will really help your case about saving the dog. Having several witnesses agreeing with you in regards to the actions you took to save the dog will help a lot. If you have a copy of that video, take it to a vet or an animal rescue organisation to get an expert opinion to help justify your actions will help a lot as well. If they agree with your actions, it will help a lot in your case.

[QUOTE=Korova;46163274]If it was, I haven't found it. I have her contact info though.[/QUOTE] She already wants the D. First impression [highlight](User was banned for this post ("Terrible post" - Craptasket))[/highlight]

It's going to backfire on that biker guy. If anything, he'll be the one that gets charged (in this case, for animal abuse).

[QUOTE=mcattack1092;46163277]You are lucky someone did film the incident as video evidence is seen as one of the most reliable form evidence over the evidence of witnesses' accounts of events. Getting any witnesses to attend the case will really help your case about saving the dog. Having several witnesses agreeing with you in regards to the actions you took to save the dog will help a lot. If you have a copy of that video, take it to a vet or an animal rescue organisation to get an expert opinion to help justify your actions will help a lot as well. If they agree with your actions, it will help a lot in your case.[/QUOTE] I'm taking my cat to the vet in a couple days so I'll run it past him and get his expert opinion on the record. I'll try to get the video sent over too, don't know how I feel about uploading it since it is currently involved in a case but I'll find out more when I talk to a friend of the family who is a judge/lawyer.

[QUOTE=NitronikALT;46163224]You did the right thing, and I'm pretty sure you're also going to be safe. Isn't there a law against leaving dogs inside cars?[/QUOTE] Depends on where you live.

[QUOTE=Korova;46163411]I'm taking my cat to the vet in a couple days so I'll run it past him and get his expert opinion on the record. I'll try to get the video sent over too, don't know how I feel about uploading it since it is currently involved in a case but I'll find out more when I talk to a friend of the family who is a judge/lawyer.[/QUOTE] It is best not to upload evidence like that to youtube. Try to keep it the video off the internet until the case has been resolved.

[QUOTE=mcattack1092;46163427]It is best not to upload evidence like that to youtube. Try to keep it the video off the internet until the case has been resolved.[/QUOTE] And THEN upload it to show your heroics and eventually maybe a pissed off biker. What was a biker doing in a car anyway.

Hopefully you live in one of the places were this is protected legally. I've heard here in the UK if you think a dog is in danger you're allowed to smash to window to save it.

Good on you for helping the dog. Can't imagine how many people walked past and turned their heads away.

If you were to end up paying for it, I'd just key his car or toss a rock into it again.

[QUOTE=Strontboer;46164697]If you were to end up paying for it, I'd just key his car or toss a rock into it again.[/QUOTE] that'd only make it worse because he's not doing it with a cause anymore

[QUOTE=Recurracy;46164749]that'd only make it worse because he's not doing it with a cause anymore[/QUOTE] it'd be worse regardless

Id be surprised if you didnt have to pay for any damages, but that would be the maximum for something like this. So yeah, 1 broken car window is the price you had to pay to save a dog, but that is honestly the worst thing that could come out of this. What will most likely happen is you will go into a tiny room with a court magistrate no jury or even a judge at all, they will laugh the guys case out the door and might ask you to pay for the window damage and that would be it. I do not know what the laws are for damaging property to save/help something, if there arent any where you live then your probably gonna be stuck with the window replacement. Dont be worried though, people like court magistrates REALLY hate having their time wasted and the shit they deal with day in and day out is a waste of time. You wont be there long at all, hell most people go to these things not even dressed up and in just casual clothes, even shit like sweatpants and a wife beater, but you better dress up nice, seriously being dressed up even for something as tiny as a court magistrate goes a very long way. Also when you end up paying for the window do not let the guy give you the price, you find it yourself and do the cheapest possible. Sometimes assholes try to bully you with shit like "no it HAS to be this exact thing from this place for this cost and nothing else" that but you dont need to comply at all, it just has to function and fit.

found an article on just this thing from his area- [url]http://www.azfamily.com/news/Legal-to-break-car-window-for-dog-rescue-261843661.html[/url] [quote]"We have something called the necessity defense," said Richelsoph, attorney with Davis Miles McGuire Gardner, PLLC. "[Police] are going to weigh the value of the window versus the benefit of saving that dog's life." Richelsoph said the law states that[B] if a reasonable person would agree that breaking the window is the best way to save the dog then, in general, taking action would be justified[/B]. Phoenix police tentatively agree with this, saying true good Samaritans are rarely charged with a crime. However, police caution there are always many circumstances they consider when deciding if someone will be cited for a crime. Richelsoph said it comes down to a judgment call with several things to consider: How much distress is the dog experiencing? Is there time to call police and let them handle the situation? Can the owner be found quickly to unlock the car? Is it reasonable to believe the dog will die if you don’t break the window? No matter what you decide, Richelsoph said to always make sure to call police and let them know what is happening.[/quote] [editline]6th October 2014[/editline] pretty sure all is fine, given not only one, but two people (lady who recorded) agreed it was the proper course of action at the time. Not calling the cops first was a little foul, but again they take all this into consideration.

If the guy pushes this to court I'd recommend filing a report with your local animal welfare organisation. The guy doesn't deserve to have a dog.

I wonder if that guy was going to return in two minutes had you not broken his window? I honestly don't know..

[QUOTE=Jamsponge;46165791]I wonder if that guy was going to return in two minutes had you not broken his window? I honestly don't know..[/QUOTE] there's no way to tell where someone is until they return. They could have just driven in and run inside to quickly grab something and get back out (at which point the interior wouldn't be hot for a little bit, but it's still illegal to do so with a child), or they could have gone inside and been casually strolling around the store for more than an hour. All you can know at this point is: -dog is overheated as fuck -owner not here I'm not sure what waiting 2 minutes would have done for you if the guy wasn't coming around anyways, other than let the dog continue to suffer and potentially pass out/die in the process

[QUOTE=dai;46165853]there's no way to tell where someone is until they return. They could have just driven in and run inside to quickly grab something and get back out (at which point the interior wouldn't be hot for a little bit, but it's still illegal to do so with a child), or they could have gone inside and been casually strolling around the store for more than an hour. All you can know at this point is: -dog is overheated as fuck -owner not here I'm not sure what waiting 2 minutes would have done for you if the guy wasn't coming around anyways, other than let the dog continue to suffer and potentially pass out/die in the process[/QUOTE] I was actually raising the question in the opposite direction- did the guy only come out because he saw a commotion outside? I just can't believe a pet owner would be that neglectful, it's not like it's only expert knowledge that dogs die in hot cars.

[QUOTE=Jamsponge;46166096]I was actually raising the question in the opposite direction- did the guy only come out because he saw a commotion outside? I just can't believe a pet owner would be that neglectful, it's not like it's only expert knowledge that dogs die in hot cars.[/QUOTE] children and pets are left in cars for extended periods in ridiculous heat [i]frequently[/i], it's not a once in a long while occurrence and people are shitty human beings with no common sense at times. On top of that, a lot of 'box' stores in the US are designed with few/no outdoor windows, to maximize shelving space and such. Even if a store has front windows, you wouldn't really be near them unless you're checking out anyways.

Good on you for saving that dog's life.

You're a fucking hero dude, I'm surprised that the biker is pressing charges given the situation. What an idiot, he really should be thanking you. Seeing what has been posted before, you should be fine. Once again, good job.

[QUOTE]The guy had a wedding band on too so I'd imagine the guy would back off so he doesn't make himself look like a total cunt but I guess not. [/QUOTE] You should fuck his fat pig of a wife. [highlight](User was banned for this post ("shitposting" - dai))[/highlight]

My old job we had to patrol a parking lot to look for dogs stuck in cars in the summer. We never would break windows but we would call animal control and they would break the windows they usually have a <10 minute response time where I live and if they break the window they will take the dog and charge them with animal cruelty.