Remedies in Animal-Related Litigation
Litigating Animal Disputes: A Complete Guide for Lawyers 437 (Joan Schaffner & Julie Fershtman eds., 2009)
26 Pages Posted: 7 Apr 2013
Date Written: 2002
Abstract
This chapter discusses the challenges of determining appropriate remedies in cases involving animals with a focus on companion animals. Damages fall into one of two categories: substitutionary relief, which is based on the value of loss of the animal, and specific relief, which “seeks to either avoid harm, undo the harm, or repair the harm in kind.” In private law cases the primary relief sought is substitutionary damages. The changing role of companion animals in people’s lives is leading to an expanding range of available damages, such as companionship value, emotional distress and punitive damages. Of course, the jurisdiction’s substantive law governs the availability of damages.
Keywords: property, damages, economic loss
JEL Classification: K11, K12, K13, K39
Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation