Brothers Injured In Tiger Attack Sue San Francisco

[sinkingfeeling]

Source: KTVU.com

Mark Geragos, who is representing Kulbir and Amritpal "Paul" Dhaliwal, submitted papers seeking monetary compensation for "serious physical and emotional injuries" on Wednesday. The claims are a prerequisite to filing a lawsuit.

The documents allege the city failed in its duty to provide a safe zoo environment, defamed the brothers by spreading falsehoods about their possible role in provoking the attack and improperly impounded Kulbir Dhaliwal's car.

The claims state that Kulbir Dhaliwal suffered deep cuts and bite wounds on his body, underwent surgery to repair the damage to his knees and has scars from his injuries. They also allege that he was defamed by a public relations consultant that the San Francisco Zoological Society hired after the incident and made the target of "intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress."

San Francisco police spent more than a month investigating the maulings while weighing whether to seek criminal charges against the Dhaliwals. The lead investigator said in January the tiger "may have been taunted/agitated by its eventual victims," but the department suspended its investigation without recommending any charges.

Read more: http://www.ktvu.com/news/15636324/detail.html

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Who didn't see this coming?

[daleo]

1. I look forward to seeing evidence, from both sides

That is all.

[selador]

2. i heard that

siegfried and roy's tiger is about to be deposed by the defense.

[pnwmom]

12. The "emergency response report" from the accreditation team can be found at

this link, along with a number of other documents.

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_7934339?nclick_check=1

It says that the overall response of the zoo was "impressive," but faults the zoo management for not having enough staff on site and a number of other problems, including tree branches ("structural vegetation") that were too high and too close to the edges of the barrier.

[ljm2002]

3. Well why shouldn't they?

The zoo has an obligation to provide safety for its visitors. The fence was 4 feet below standard height. Regardless of anything the young men might have done to provoke the animal, the zoo failed in its responsibility.

Also, we do not really know how much they provoked the animal, if at all. I visited the SF zoo years ago with my then-husband and young daughter. We visited the lion compound. It was a weekday afternoon and we were the only people at the enclosure. We did not provoke the lion at all, but after a couple minutes of it growling and snarling in our direction and *definitely* letting us know that it would very much like to eat us -- we decided maybe it would be a good time to go see some other animals. :-) Point being, it did not necessarily take much or anything at all to provoke the tiger either -- maybe it was already having a bad day.

One more thing. While most of us may believe the young men did something to provoke the animal, that in no way excuses the zoo spokespeople LYING to the press about what happened and what evidence they had. First they found a slingshot inside the compound -- then, not. Then it was stones that the young men had thrown -- then, maybe they had thrown them -- then, well no real evidence of that either. Now regardless of the truth of the situation and whether they played a part in what happened, the zoo people had no right to lie. And they did it just so they could get the meme out there that the young men had it coming. And why did they do this? To protect their image, and in hopes of staving off damages. I think that is just evil, myself.

[pnwmom]

8. I agree completely, ljm2002. And even IF someone had provoked the

tiger, she could have gotten out and attacked a completely unrelated person -- like a child nearby. All zoo patrons were at risk with an enclosure that wasn't high enough.

[DiverDave]

4. Jackasses get millions...film at 11

stupid is as stupid does: Mama Gump.

[depakid]

6. The jury can award whatever damages that it wants

There are cases where plaintiffs get $1 despite having proved their legal case.

This could be one of those....

[pnwmom]

9. The jackasses include the manager of the zoo who didn't make sure

the enclosure met standards, and anyone else who inspected them and approved them.

Management problems had been rife at the zoo for years, and this sort of tragedy was sadly predictable.

[jeff30997]

5. "Who didn't see this coming?"

Me.I swear I had no clue this was going to happen! Seriesly!1!

[lob1]

7. It’s too bad tigers can’t blog.

They can’t speak for themselves. As I remember, that tiger was shot and killed, probably because those jerks shot at it with rocks from a slingshot. They should be thrown in jail for causing the death of one of an endangered species. I have zero sympathy for them.

[pnwmom]

10. The enclosure was several feet too short. It failed to meet the standard.

That is the bottom line.

If you've informed yourself, you already know that there is no evidence of slingshots or rocks.

[musette_sf]

11. and in an obvious attempt to garner sympathy,

:wtf:

one of the brothers got popped yesterday at a local Target store, attempting to shoplift two Wii controllers:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/28/MNSSVSB9R.DTL&tsp=1

"Once Dhaliwal walked outside the store, Marucut and several other security officials confronted him. Dhaliwal "was uncooperative and immediately began to resist," Marucut wrote in a statement included in the police report."

on edit: a comment from the SFGate comments page on the article:

"it wasn't his fault.. the walls around the video controllers should have been higher to prevent them from jumping into his pants."

[SteinbachMB]

13. No surprise

...but Geragos? Can't stand him.

[Codedonkey]

14. I found out my parents (and me) used to live next to the family of the one who was killed....

He was born yet, but my parents knew the family...

Anyways, if the zoo didn't do their part then they should be held liable. Although I hate to see these jackasses get money from it...

[laylah]

15. You mean the brothers that

harrassed and enticed the tiger? Freakin' idiots and I hope they lose!

[RamboLiberal]

16. Tiger attack victim arrested on suspicion of theft

The younger of two brothers who survived a Christmas Day tiger attack at the San Francisco Zoo was arrested on suspicion of trying to steal two video game controllers from a San Leandro store, police said today.

Paul Dhaliwal, 19, hid two Nintendo Wii controllers in his pants at the Target store on East 14th Street about 6:30 p.m. Thursday, San Leandro police Lt. Tom Overton said.

Store security officer Michael Marucut, dressed in plainclothes, witnessed the theft and followed Dhaliwal as he walked past the cash registers, "never making an attempt to pay for the concealed items," the police report said.

Once Dhaliwal walked outside the store, Marucut and several other security officials confronted him. Dhaliwal "was uncooperative and immediately began to resist," Marucut wrote in a statement included in the police report.

Dhaliwal was subdued and placed under citizen's arrest. Officer Warren DeGuzman arrived and took Dhaliwal into custody. After he was read his rights, Dhaliwal "admitted to selecting and concealing the merchandise," DeGuzman wrote in his report.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/28/MNSSVSB9R.DTL

Guess he couldn't wait for his millions!

[kskiska]

17. These guys should do really great on the stand

considering how they react when questioned by authorities. Geregos is probably hoping for a settlement so they don't have to testify. They still haven't told their official story, much less been cross-examined.

(snip)

Those legal troubles could be an issue if the brothers file a lawsuit against the zoo and it goes to trial. Defamation is one of the few legal claims that makes your life "an open book," said one legal expert.

"If they end up testifying, then their credibility is an issue and any dishonest act, stealing or lying, could be brought in to undermine their credibility," said attorney Jim Hammer, a former deputy district attorney in San Francisco who successfully prosecuted a fatal dog mauling case there.

"Once you get on the stand," he said, "your reputation and veracity are an open book."

more…
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_8730782?nclick_check=1

[EFerrari]

18. The bottom line is the SF Zoo privateers f#cked up. Two drunk

teenagers or early 20s shouldn't have been able to elicit a tiger attack resulting in the killing of the cat.

That was the zoo contractors' job and they screwed up.