Innocuous animals terrorize Florida!

Apparently, squirrels and turtles have grown sick of tourists and pesky Floridians and have initiated the beginning stages of a 2-front war, attacking by both land and sea.  Updates to come as details warrant....

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[Hunc T. Caveto]

Squirrel Law, continued:

Patron claims shopping center should be held liable for injuries caused by a squirrel's attack on her.

Case Number: 2006 L 8623 Filed: August 14, 2006

Marcy Meckler vs. Westfield Corporation, Inc., d/b/a Westfield Shoppingtown Old Orchard

Amount: $50,000.00 Type Of Case: Other P.I./Wrongful Death

Summary:
The Plaintiff, a patron of the Defendant's shopping center, claims that negligence by the Defendant's employees in failing to remove, and actively encouraging a squirrel to remain on the premises by feeding it, resulted in her suffering serious injuries when the squirrel attacked her. She also claims that the squirrel had previously attacked other persons. Plaintiff Marcy Meckler sues Westfield Corporation, Inc., d/b/a Westfield Shoppingtown Old Orchard.
The Defendant, a California corporation doing business in Cook County, Illinois, owns and operates the premises known as The Old Orchard Shopping Center, located on Old Orchard Center road in Skokie, Illinois. The premises contains a number of businesses, including a Tiffany & Co. jewelry store and a Nordstrom Department store.

On December 3, 2004, the Plaintiff was shopping at Old Orchard, having exited Tiffany & Co.'s store, and was in the process of passing a small grass encompassed courtyard area situated between Tiffany & Co. and the Nordstrom store, when a squirrel jumped up and attached itself to her leg, according to the Complaint.

The Plaintiff, while "frantically attempting" to escape from the squirrel and detach it from her leg, fell and suffered severe injuries.

The Complaint asserts that the Defendant was negligent in the maintenance and security of the premises. It alleges that the Defendant, through its employees, agents, and security personnel, had been aware for a long time of the presence of the squirrel on the premises, and allowed it to remain there, despite the fact that it had previously attacked and harassed other customers.

Additionally, the Complaint asserts, the Defendant's personnel encouraged the squirrel to remain on the premises by feeding and caring for it.

Damages in excess of $50,000 are sought, along with an award of costs.