Legal Question in Civil Litigation in California

Is friend responsible for loss of pet?

I had a friend living with me. She moved her things out of my home, to avoid paying back rent. She left some personal belongings behind. She snuck the remaining part of her belongings out of my home(no one was home at the time)and at that time, my exotic shorthaired house cat disappeared. She had made several remarks about wanting the cat, so I phoned police, because the cat vanished when she moved out. Is she liable to replace or compensate me for the cat, since it disappeared when she had snuck into the house to retrieve her belongings. Cat hasn't been seen since, and we had him for 3 years.


Asked on 6/24/05, 5:39 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Anthony Roach Law Office of Anthony A. Roach

Re: Is friend responsible for loss of pet?

If you can prove that she took your cat she is definitely liable. The problem is in the proof. Her obvious excuse is going to either be that she never saw your cat, or that it escaped from your home as an accident.

I personally doubt that if she accidentally let your cat out, that the cat would have left the area. Cat's are very territorial, but this is from my experience as a cat owner, not as a lawyer.

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Answered on 6/24/05, 5:43 pm


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