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Andi The Ohio Police Dog Named In Lawsuit
Forbes | 12/14/2005

One of the defendants has more than a leg to stand on in a lawsuit filed by a convicted drug dealer. Andi has four legs. He's a dog used by the Athens County Sheriff's Department.

County Prosecutor C. David Warren said to his knowledge, it's the first time the county's dog has ever been singled out as a defendant. Warren has volunteered to handle Andi's defense personally.

Wayne Francis Green, 46, of Albany filed the civil suit Nov. 18 in Athens County Common Pleas Court, alleging that a search of his furniture business in 2003 was illegal. He say officers also went into an adjoining building that he owned without a warrant, but police deny it.

The search turned up 50 pounds of marijuana, and last month Green was convicted of possession and trafficking in the drug. His sentencing is scheduled for Jan. 6.

Green's lawsuit, which seeks $450,000 in damages, also was filed against police investigators, Athens County Sheriff Vern Castle and the trial judge who ruled that the marijuana was admissible as evidence because it came from the furniture business, not the other building.

Last Thursday, Andi the German shepherd was informed that he's being sued, sort of. With a paw print, the dog "signed" the paper indicating he had been formally served with the complaint.

(BuzzNote: I hope he's called the German Consul and the Policedog's Benevolent Association. )

A message seeking comment was left Monday for Green, who is representing himself in the lawsuit.

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mbruffee

ha! that's halarious... the dog is being prosecuted.. it's like a story my mom (an attorney) told me about a hearing (about whether or not a defendant's testamony was voluntary), in which the detective was being interrogated. He was asked, did you give him a drink? yeah i might have givin him a drink at one point... well did you give him anything to eat? well, i don't think so... and the defendant jumps up and shouts, "he's a liar! he gave me a sandwich!"

Mamabudz

...well there was o question THAT statment was voluntary ...and people wonder why I don't practice anymore

Never heard of a dog ...but it is possible to sue things other than Humans. An example would be a Corporation or a Country or Municipality.

Naming the dog as a defendant may be a method of protecting the integrity of "testimony" from the animal or it may be protect the integrity of the case. Often many Defendant's are named so that no one is left out such that the individual left out might cause the case to be dismissed for failure to prosecute the appropriate party upon case filing causing the case to be refiled and delaying the process and costing the plaintiff more costs.