Victim’s Partner Sues Caretakers of Killer Dogs
The partner of a woman who was fatally mauled by two dogs in January filed a wrongful death suit Monday against the two lawyers who were caretakers for the animals.
After filing the suit in San Francisco Superior Court, Sharon Smith and her attorneys said that in addition to requiring Robert Noel and Marjorie Knoller to accept responsibility for Diane Whipple’s death, they also hope to clear a legal hurdle: that of having California recognize Smith and Whipple as a couple.
The suit was filed as a grand jury continued to hear evidence that could lead to criminal charges against Noel and Knoller.
The suit alleges that the two were negligent in their handling of the two dogs that attacked and killed Whipple in the hallway of her apartment building.
The suit was filed on behalf of Smith by the National Center for Lesbian Rights.
“The issue of whether someone in Sharon’s position can bring a wrongful death suit has never been addressed by a California court,” said Kate Kendall, executive director of the lesbian rights group. “We are confident that the answer in this case will be yes.”
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