SIMI VALLEY : $1-Million Suit Filed for Ex-Model Iguana

Iggy the Iguana’s modeling career may be over, but his owner is determined to make the Simi Valley veterinarian who she claims is responsible pay the seven-pound reptile $1 million for his pain.

Iggy’s owner, Donna Roberts of Santa Barbara, has sued veterinarian Robert Clipsham, claiming he broke her pet’s back and ribs, and cut up its tail last year when the 2-year-old reptile went in for a blood test.

In her suit, Roberts contends the five-foot-long iguana was breathing heavily and was in shock when she took it from Clipsham’s treatment room at California Exotics Clinic on May 31, 1989.

Clipsham said through a spokeswoman that he had no comment and “all that’s going around right now are rumors.”

The lawsuit contends that Clipsham provided “malicious” and “unprofessional” care. Iggy’s spine is twisted and is missing much of his tail, said Barbara Irving, Roberts’ attorney.

“The animal looks like a poor little hunched-back old man,” Irving said. “He’s kind of between a hunchback and a U shape and he can’t straighten out at all. And he’s been this way for a year.”

Because he is misshapen, Iggy no longer makes an attractive picture for photographers, the suit said.

Iggy was “used to a good bit of photography work,” Irving said. His image was used on silk-screened T-shirts and several alcohol companies employed Iggy for its advertisements.

Roberts is seeking $1 million in damages. She sought therapy to deal with the emotional stress of the iguana’s injuries, the suit said.

“It’s not healthy at all,” Irving said of the iguana, which resides at Roberts apartment. “It has difficulty breathing, walking, eating and drinking. . . . She doesn’t want to put it to sleep. She still feels that he’s got a wonderful spirit.”