A contractor, I presume that he is a maintenance contractor, has filed a lawsuit against the owner of an apartment in a condominium in downtown Tampa, Florida, USA, for damages as a result of an attack by a bobcat whilst he was in the apartment alone. The apartment is on the 18th floor!
My first impression is that the man concerned, his name is Marcos Hernandez, is being taken for a ride by his attorney who is know doubt charging him a substantial fee to run the lawsuit on his behalf. His attorney should know better because he is misleading his client. That is because this case is going to fall flat on its face at a very early stage because it is painfully obvious to anybody including a child that he was not attacked by a bobcat in a high-rise condominium in downtown Tampa.
What happened was the resident cat, a charming looking cat who appears to be a black tortoiseshell longhair, became agitated and scratched Mr Hernandez while he was in the flat alone and this was entirely predictable. It is something you might expect a domestic cat to do under these circumstances.
In other words, in my considered opinion, Mr Hernandez is the author of his own injuries. He is going to have to go to court to prove that this charming, fluffy domestic cat is actually a bobcat. In doing so he is going to look a fool and so is his lawyer. But his lawyer won’t mind because he’ll walk away with several thousands of dollars in fees.
I expect in fact the case not to get to court because it seems to me that Mr Hernandez is going for some sort of early monetary compensation from the flat owner, Christine Lee, by pressurising her through a lawsuit. She should resist firmly. If I was her I wouldn’t even bother appointing an attorney to act on my behalf. I would turn up in person at court if I had to and argue my case. In doing that she will save on her own expenses.
In addition, Hernandez is suing the Sky Point Condominium Association which I presume is the condominium’s management.
Who keeps a pet bobcat on the 18th floor of an apartment block in the middle of town? Christine Lee cannot understand how he mistook a domestic cat for a bobcat. They are completely different in appearance and the latter is far larger than the former. A bobcat is a medium-sized wild cat species and they don’t make pets. I don’t know anybody who has a bobcat as a pet.
There’s no question that Hernandez was scratched. The police were involved and they report that he was bleeding and taken to Tampa General Hospital.
Hernandez broke the condo rules by being in the apartment alone. He should have been in the apartment with the owner when the inspection was conducted. Either that or the cat should have be caged. Christine Lee did not expect the inspection to occur until late afternoon which is why she was not there.
The cat’s name is Calli and she has been vaccinated against rabies. Christine Lee was able to produce a certificate to that effect.
It is extraordinary that officials from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission attended the apartment to look into the matter. No doubt they had a smile on their face when they saw Calli.
There’s not much more to say. The key issue is that Mr Hernandez is being very foolish while his attorney is being greedy.
Source: various inc. Tampa Bay Times.
Another opportunist extortionist looking for a big pay day rip off from what he perceives are rich people. If I was him I would be too embarrassed to show my face to my man friends. I would bet money on it that he tried to abuse the cat and she was not having it. If it was my cat I would take her to the vet to make sure, because if he did with proof from the vet I would press criminal charges for animal abuse and all his phony lawsuit extortion scheme would go right out the window. Too bad the cat only scratched him. He is lucky he did not get shot, Florida is a stand your ground state and since he had no legal right to be there it would be justified under state law. My relatives in Florida tell me most people have at least one gun in their house.
If it was a dog it would be court-ordered to be destroyed. People have lost their arms and legs to infections caused by cat attacks. Why do you feel you are above all laws on earth? You are not.
The least that will happen now is that condominium complex will make it against condo rules for anyone to own cats and that cat-owner will have to sell their condo and move out–or get rid of her vicious cat. That’s what happens with criminally irresponsible pet-owners, and the harm they cause to all other pet owners.
Rubbish as usual. The condo obviously allows cats and perhaps small dogs under certain rules. This event (bite by cat) was caused by a breakdown in the condo rules. Therefore the rules are good and should not be changed as you suggest. Cats scratches and bites are not dangerous provided the bitten or scratched person observes the wound and if it becomes inflamed sees their doctor for an antibiotic prescription as soon as possible. The inflammation will subside quite quickly. If wounds are left they can cause a more severe injury through infection. Most cat bites don’t result in an infection.
I am sick of people like you calling cat owners ‘criminally irresponsible’. It is you who is more likely to be a criminal through trolling on cat websites. Beware. In the UK it is a crime.
Hey moron, get off this site and get a life. See right thru your rhetoric and propaganda.
Thanks Michele. He is one of those mad as broomstick types with an axe to grind. He has been banned.
Good, let him take his evil black hearted intentions back to the rest of Satan’s minions.
I think if it were a dog, even his lawyer wouldn’t have gone for it. Both animals have the natural inclination if not the right to protect their home against strangers, especially if the owner isn’t there. Also, being that Mr. Hernandez was so ludicrous as to the identity of the animal, Calli probably thought “I don’t EVEN trust THIS moron, who probably thinks I’m a Bobcat or something.”
I bet he tried to abuse her and she fought back. I would take her to the vet and if the vet said he harmed one hair on her head I would press criminal charges for amimal abuse. Too bad she only scratched this low life.
🙂 You make me smile. I would not be surprised if the contractor did something which caused Calli to react with a scratch or bite.
It’s the old Lawsuit Lottery. I hope she fights him tooth and nail, as it were. Countersue, if she can. I would definitely have a lawyer, because if he goes with a jury trial, it is amazing what they will award for utter nonsense. That scum will go after the deepest pockets he can. What a total loser. And his being in there when he wasn’t supposed to, and the owner could not be present, I would hope will really count against him. Please keep us updated on this?
Hopefully Callie will be okay. The only other logical (tongue in cheek) explanation is that Callie is a cat shapeshifter who can turn into a bobcat. Of course. ☺️
Haha, that’s a good one!
Maybe Calli is tailless (part Manx?) which caused the plaintiff’s confusion!?! I truly hope that Mr. Hernandez had a contingency fee arrangement with his attorney, meaning that the attorney would only be paid if he won the case. I have the feeling that the condominium association’s legal team will make quick work of this matter.