However, Jeffery Ely of Duluth, Minnesota, apparently thinks differently. On January 4th of this year, he was driving along near Duluth. That's when Fester, a miniature pinscher, ran into the road, only to be killed by Ely's vehicle. Fester was a small dog: around 5.8 kilograms or 12 pounds, 12 ounces. That's pretty small for a dog.
Not only was Fester small, but he was brain damaged. Ely, however, is suing Fester's owner for around $1,100 to pay for the damage to his car, time off from his job to repair said car, and court fees.
Now, I've run over a few critters in my time (by accident, of course), and I don't know that I'd be all that worried about a 12-pound miniature pinscher causing horrendous damage to my car — certainly not $1,100 worth. But Ely claims that although he feels sorry for the dog's loss, the owners were responsible.
The owners, understandably, disagree — they are countersuing for $2,400.
Still, at least Ely hasn't gone to the extreme of Tomas Delgado from Spain, who sued the family of a child on a bicycle for damaging his Audi while Delgado ran over and killed him.
