LANSING, Mich. (Legal Newsline) – An inmate approved for volunteer duty at an animal shelter can’t sue it because he was attacked by a dog there.
On Sept. 10, the Michigan Court of Appeals reached that decision in Joe Richardson’s lawsuit against the Oakland County Animal Shelter and others, affirming a trial court order in favor of the defendants.
Richardson sued the county sheriff’s office, a deputy and a shelter employee in November 2018, a year after he and another inmate-volunteer were attacked by a pit bull while cleaning kennels. The defendants enjoy governmental immunity from the claims, the court ruled.
“Plaintiff’s allegations fail to rise to the level of gross negligence,” the decision says. “Plaintiff alleged only that a pit bull attacked him without provocation, that personnel did not respond to the attack for several minutes, and that defendants failed to provide protective gear.
“These allegations are insufficient to establish gross negligence.”
Video shows it took employees less than two minutes to respond to Richardson’s request for help. Staff also administered first aid immediately and a nurse further treated him after.