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00:00It is your claim that their larger dog bit and injured yours.
00:04Correct.
00:06Your dog was off leash.
00:08She's a service dog and does not have to be on a leash.
00:11She was not on a leash.
00:13She is a service dog.
00:14That's a lot of bluh-bluh-bluh.
00:16Your job is to protect it.
00:18You didn't do that.
00:19This is Judy Justice.
00:43You didn't do that.
01:00You're welcome.
01:02Mr. Baker.
01:03Yes.
01:04This is your brother.
01:06Yes, it is.
01:07And your wife?
01:08This is my girlfriend.
01:10Girlfriend.
01:11Wife?
01:12Girlfriend.
01:13Girlfriend.
01:13And I assume they are longtime mates.
01:17Is that right?
01:18Correct.
01:19How long have you been together?
01:20Six years.
01:21And you?
01:22Four.
01:23Now, what I gather is that you each have a campsite in a park.
01:29Yes.
01:30And how big is this campsite that you have?
01:32I'm not sure.
01:34It has, like, I'm assuming 110 sites, something like that.
01:37And you rent it annually?
01:40Seasonals.
01:41We are both seasonals.
01:42We've been there several years.
01:44Same spots.
01:44That's what I gather.
01:45You each have your own spot.
01:47Correct.
01:47Explain to me what you do on that campsite.
01:51Do you have a mobile home that you bring?
01:54Yes.
01:54We both have campers.
01:56Campers.
01:56Tell me what the camper is like.
01:58Like an RV that is stationary that would stay put on the TV.
02:03Got it.
02:05Picture is always better.
02:06Yep.
02:07So it's like a little house.
02:08You have a porch that you put out.
02:10And does that stay there when you're not there?
02:13Yes, correct.
02:14Over the winter.
02:15Okay.
02:15So it stays over the winter.
02:16In good weather, you come up a couple of times a month.
02:19About every weekend, yes.
02:21Now, you have this little dog.
02:23Yes.
02:24Or it's your girlfriend's dog.
02:26Uh-huh.
02:26And you have a dog, which is a much larger dog.
02:29Yes.
02:29Not here today.
02:30No.
02:31And it is your claim that their larger dog bit and injured yours.
02:36Correct.
02:36Seriously injured her.
02:38It's a little girl.
02:39Injured her.
02:40Uh-huh.
02:41And so far, your vet bills are, according to you, $11,000 for the surgeries that she's had.
02:47Uh-huh.
02:47And you want your brother and his girlfriend, because it's the girlfriend's dog.
02:52Is that right?
02:52Is it your dog?
02:53She was both of our dogs.
02:55You got her since you've been together?
02:57Yes.
02:58Okay.
02:58You want them to be responsible for the vet bills?
03:01Correct.
03:01Okay.
03:02So why don't you tell me when the incident happened that resulted in your puppy being injured?
03:10It was on day 4, 2024.
03:13We were up camping, and our campsites are closed together.
03:17If I may approach the TV and explain.
03:20Go ahead.
03:20Okay.
03:25So this is my campsite right here, and then there are two open lots next door, and then
03:30this is my brother and Danielle's campsite.
03:33Okay.
03:33And we were camping, and it was cold, so we had a fire going, and then we had a big,
03:38like,
03:3815 by 15 domed tent outside, and I had ran electrical cords and heaters in there.
03:44For what reason?
03:45Because it was cold, as in.
03:47Well, what is the tent for if you, could you step back?
03:50Yeah, yeah.
03:50Step back.
03:51What is the tent for, just for my own information?
03:53It was very windy and chilly that day, so we ran electrical cords to stay warm.
03:58We had the fire, and then we had a big dome tent to stay warm.
04:01So you were in the tent?
04:02We were setting it up at the time.
04:04Is it a tent that you used to eat in, that you used for socialization?
04:07I don't understand.
04:08Just to lounge in with heaters to stay warm, because, I mean, I think it was 40 degrees
04:12and windy that day.
04:13So the camper doesn't easily accommodate four people?
04:17Yeah, but we like to be outside during camp.
04:20Okay.
04:21When we're camping season.
04:22Okay.
04:23Let's go.
04:24So we were in there fixing, setting up the electrical cords and getting the heaters going.
04:30Which is near their campsite.
04:31Correct.
04:32Right along that tree line.
04:33Which is near their campsite.
04:35So when I walked back to my, we had golf carts.
04:39His son had just drove up on a golf cart like 15 feet away, and then my golf cart was
04:43back
04:43behind it.
04:44So when I walked back behind.
04:45Now look at me.
04:47Danielle had said that Ronan needed to go potty.
04:50So she called it.
04:51Just a second.
04:51Ronan is the name of their dog.
04:53Their dog.
04:53I'm sorry.
04:53Just a second.
04:54You didn't tell me.
04:55I want to know where everybody was.
04:56You're setting up a tent.
04:57Where is your girlfriend?
04:59She was in there with me.
05:00In where?
05:01In the tent.
05:02And Danielle was in the camper.
05:03Yes.
05:04Just a second.
05:04You and your girlfriend are in the tent.
05:07Yes.
05:07And where is your dog?
05:08She was in there with us as well.
05:10In the tent.
05:11Yes.
05:12Let's go.
05:13So Danielle came to the door.
05:14She was inside the camper with Rona and asked Clint, said, Rona needs to go potty.
05:19I had walked by, and Clint walked out and tried to hand the leash off to his son.
05:24And the dog got loose, ran around the tent, and before anybody had time to react, she had
05:29attacked her.
05:30In the tent?
05:31Oh, outside of it by the fire.
05:33Okay.
05:34We'd walked out.
05:35Just, oh no.
05:36The last thing I heard was your puppy was in the tent with you and your girlfriend.
05:43Correct.
05:43When did your puppy leave the tent?
05:47She walked out to the fire with Molly.
05:50So she walked out to the fire, so she's no longer in the tent.
05:54Correct.
05:55And she is not on a leash.
05:56She's sitting behind her.
05:58Just a second.
05:59She's outside by the fire, not on a leash.
06:03She's a service dog and does not have to be on a leash.
06:05I want to know how this dog became a service dog.
06:13These two dogs, according to what I've read, have had dust-ups in the past.
06:18Correct.
06:19How much does your dog weigh?
06:20About 50 pounds.
06:22How old?
06:23She was four years old.
06:24You mean at this time?
06:25We actually put her down as a result of this incident.
06:29Was this the first time she's ever attacked another animal?
06:41Craig Baker and Molly Heiser claimed Craig's brother, Clint Baker, and his girlfriend, Danielle Roberts, owe for vet bills after
06:50Molly's chihuahua was attacked by their pit bull.
06:53Did she become a service dog over the Internet?
06:57Yes.
06:57When you applied for papers for her to be a service dog, did the Internet service provide you with a
07:06doctor to certify that she was necessary as a service dog?
07:10They provided a phone.
07:12That's either a yes or a no.
07:14No.
07:15So somebody that you paid on the Internet had her papered as a service dog?
07:22Yes.
07:22I don't want to hear service dog anymore.
07:25Okay.
07:26Do you understand?
07:27Yep.
07:27She was not on a leash.
07:29Correct.
07:30And their dog came out with a leash on, according to what you just said to me.
07:36And as your brother was handing the leash to his son, the dog escaped the leash.
07:43Correct.
07:44And ran after your dog and attacked it.
07:47Correct.
07:48Is that what happened?
07:49No, Your Honor.
07:50Okay.
07:51And you have a photograph of your dog?
07:55Yes.
07:55I have several.
07:55I'd like to see it.
07:56Okay.
08:00And these two dogs, according to what I've read, have had dust-ups in the past.
08:05Correct.
08:06Okay.
08:08How much does your dog weigh?
08:10About 50 pounds.
08:12How old?
08:12She was four years old.
08:14You mean at this time?
08:15We actually put her down as a result of this incident.
08:19Was this the first time she's ever attacked another animal?
08:22She has actually tried to attack Sarah before.
08:26That was about three years ago that Sarah, again, off leash, came on our lot.
08:32Our dog was tied up.
08:33And she, at that time, didn't cause her any harm.
08:36She just had a scratch on her nose.
08:38Any other animal that you've had difficulty with with your dog?
08:42I'm just wondering why you put her down.
08:43Sure.
08:44So there was an incident in February of 2024 where our neighbor's dog got out of their house
08:51and came in our yard.
08:52And our dog did bite that dog one time.
08:56That dog ran back to its house.
08:58Our dog stayed in our yard.
09:00But, yes, there was one other incident.
09:02How did your neighbor's dog get into your yard?
09:05I really don't know.
09:06We believe it came under the fence.
09:08But it was a fenced yard.
09:09Yes.
09:09Yes.
09:10Okay.
09:11So now let me hear your version of these events.
09:14So on April 20th, 2024, we were at our campsite, as Mr. Baker said.
09:20It was a cold day, like he said, rainy.
09:23We've been going to this campground for four years, have taken our dog with us every weekend
09:30to the campground.
09:31Typically, we keep her in our camper.
09:34So we were setting up the tent.
09:36And the dog was locked in the camper?
09:38Yes.
09:39Yes.
09:39Okay.
09:39So Mr. Baker came over from his campsite, which is approximately 20 yards away, with Sarah,
09:45the dog.
09:46He was helping Clint set up the tent, at which point I said to Clint that Rona needed to go
09:53potty and could he please take her out.
09:55So I walked to our camper, put Rona's harness and leash on her, and then handed him the leash.
10:01And I stayed in the camper to get food around.
10:04And then?
10:05I took the leash at that point.
10:06Okay.
10:08Can I describe on the screen exactly the process that I went through?
10:12Sure.
10:15So I immediately grabbed Rona at the door.
10:18She handed her off.
10:19We were walking directly out here.
10:20My golf cart was parked here with my two boys in it.
10:23Rona walked out nonchalantly, got almost to the golf cart, and the tent would be here.
10:29Sarah came outside of the tent, around the fire area, and aggressively started barking
10:35at Rona.
10:36Sarah, the little dog.
10:38Correct.
10:38The little chihuahua came out.
10:40She does not bark.
10:41Came out, barked at our dog, at which point Rona went directly, and Rona is very protective
10:47of our family.
10:47Whatever.
10:48The little one was barking, and your dog got away from whom?
10:53From me.
10:54From you.
10:55Okay.
10:56But it was on a leash.
10:58Correct.
10:58Okay.
10:59Ms. Roberts says that you were handing the leash off to somebody.
11:02I was in process of handing the dog to my son.
11:05Didn't quite, didn't make the process.
11:07Okay.
11:07Step back.
11:08Your Honor, this dog has bit another camper, a grown man, who came up unexpectedly prior.
11:16And then the dog incident, she had explained that the dog got up the kid's playground near
11:22the thing and jumped over the fence and attacked the dog two months earlier.
11:26Let me ask you this question, Mr. Baker.
11:29I have always had little dogs.
11:32And certainly, I believe that your brother and Ms. Roberts understand.
11:37And certainly, from the fact that they put this dog down, they understood that the dog
11:42had propensities that they didn't want to deal with anymore.
11:45Does that be a fair statement?
11:47Sure.
11:47However, you knew clearly what those were.
11:51And so they are at least partially responsible for these vet bills, despite the fact that they
11:58did, in fact, put a leash on their dog.
12:00It was, even though a stretch, it was negligence of not holding onto the leash tight enough so
12:07that it wouldn't get off the leash.
12:09But their intention was, knowing that the two dogs had had a problem, they did leash the dog to take
12:16the dog out, right?
12:18Correct.
12:18Your dog was not.
12:47Your dog was not.
12:48Mr. Baker, if the dog was being held by either you or your girlfriend or on a leash, the incident
12:58would not have happened.
13:00Even if she was on a leash, we could not stop that dog from attacking this dog.
13:04You don't know that because she was not on a leash.
13:07So I'm telling you that while I find the actions of the defendant correct but negligent because
13:18the leash slipped out of their hand, I don't find you and your girlfriend without fault.
13:25What didn't you understand that I just said?
13:28You're the parent.
13:29You ensure that your dog is safe.
13:32You didn't do that.
13:34My dog's a service dog.
13:35It doesn't have to be on a leash.
13:36That's a lot of, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
13:38Your dog can't protect itself.
13:39Your job is to protect it.
13:50Craig Baker and Molly Heiser are accusing Craig's brother, Clint Baker, and his girlfriend,
13:57Danielle Roberts, of owing for vet bills after their pit bull attacked Molly's chihuahua.
14:04Now, you just went on with a litany, Mr. Baker, of things that you knew about this dog, including
14:10the fact that they had had a dust-up before.
14:13And this is a big dog.
14:16So either you keep your dog locked up if you're going over to your brother's camper.
14:21I asked before I went over there if Rona was locked up in the room, not just in the camper.
14:26What didn't you understand that I just said?
14:29You're the parent.
14:30You ensure that you ensure that your dog is safe.
14:36You didn't do that.
14:37My dog's a service dog.
14:39It doesn't have to be on a leash.
14:40That's a lot of blah, blah, blah.
14:41Your dog can't protect itself.
14:43Your job is to protect it.
14:45Their job is to make certain that their dog is not put in a situation where it can hurt
14:52another person or another animal.
14:54They tried to do it, but they were ineffective in doing it.
14:58You were an ineffective parent by allowing your dog to be in a situation where your dog
15:04was off-leash and able to be attacked by theirs, even though it was due to their negligence.
15:10So I actually believe that whatever the vet bills are that you've incurred so far are
15:17going to be evenly divided between you and your brother, because that's reasonable.
15:22You were negligent, and your girlfriend was negligent with a little dog, and she's your
15:28responsibility.
15:28She can't take care of herself.
15:30She can't say, please leave me in my own camper.
15:34I don't want to go where that big dog is anymore.
15:37Just leave me in my camper.
15:39I'll be very happy.
15:40She can't do that.
15:41You have to judge that.
15:43You placed her in a situation where she was at risk, and unfortunately, it came to fruition
15:48because of a negligent, not a gross negligent.
15:52It would have been grossly negligent if they let the dog out of the camper.
15:55That would have been grossly negligent given the history, but they didn't.
15:59They actually tried to control the dog.
16:01You didn't even try to control yours.
16:03Let me see the vet bills, please.
16:18So the vet bills were almost $11,000, $10,991.
16:23Is she doing okay now?
16:25Yes.
16:25And she's finished with the vet?
16:27Yes.
16:27As far as we know.
16:29Okay.
16:29Did your brother and his girlfriend offer to pay any part of this vet bill?
16:34Um...
16:35That was not an answer, Mr. Baker.
16:37No, no.
16:37Did you...
16:38We had a phone call or a text back and forth, and she said your brother offered $5,000,
16:42and we never had a conversation about paying half of it.
16:46Just a second.
16:46Who had a conversation?
16:48We had a text back and forth, me and...
16:50May I see it?
16:51Huh?
16:51May I see it?
16:52Yes, you may.
17:01Well, they offered to pay you half.
17:03At that point in time, yes.
17:05And you did not accept it?
17:06Nope.
17:07I did not.
17:08You did not accept it?
17:09It was a known vicious dog that got loose.
17:11The dog is known vicious dog has had attacks on...
17:14I just explained to you what my thinking was, sir.
17:16I understand.
17:16Yeah, now you understand it.
17:17It was the proper thing for him to do.
17:20I know that you accept no culpability for what happened to your girlfriend's dog,
17:24but you do have culpability with regard to what happened with your girlfriend's dog.
17:29I assume that what I read is correct, that the campsite provides that all dogs must be on a leash.
17:35Correct.
17:36And we have...
17:36Okay, and your dog was not on a leash.
17:38We have multiple dogs.
17:39There's only one dog...
17:40That are...
17:41There's only one dog that was...
17:42The neighbors beside him do not...
17:43Just a second.
17:44...leash their dogs, and they're fine.
17:46It doesn't...
17:46Sir, you don't understand.
17:48They're not before me.
17:49If the rules of the campsite say all dogs have to be on a leash, and you choose not to
17:56leash your dog,
17:57and your dog either is aggressive to another dog or gets hurt, your violation of the rules, if you're in
18:03court, bears on the weight of the responsibility of this incident.
18:09Your dog was off-leash against the rules of the place where you live.
18:13So when your brother and his girlfriend said, you know what, this incident was tragic, your dog was injured, we
18:22put our dog down, we're prepared to offer you half of your vet bills, we feel as if we're partially
18:28responsible, you think you're not.
18:30Well, you're wrong.
18:31You are partially responsible for what happened to your dog.
18:35You broke the rules.
18:36Your dog was off-leash.
18:37She should not have been near the campsite.
18:40You knew that they had problems before.
18:42Ms. Roberts is absolutely right in her text back to your girlfriend when she said, you knew that there had
18:48been problems before.
18:49Why didn't you leave the dog, whose name is Sarah, in the camper?
18:52You could have done that.
18:53You could have.
18:54You chose not to.
18:55Anyway, the bills were $11,000.
18:58Judgment for the plaintiff and the amount of what you originally offered, sir, which is $5,500.
19:03That's all.
19:03We'll finish.
19:04Thank you very much.
19:05This court is adjourned.
19:11You know, it's heartbreaking, honestly, because we put our dog down because of this, and we miss her every day.
19:18I feel that they had a known, legal, vicious dog that they escaped.
19:25She is trained to stay without a leash.
19:28I'm happy that, you know, the fairness in it was seen, that it wasn't just our responsibility.
19:33I like their dog.
19:34Their dog just is not good with certain people and every animal.
19:38Hopefully we can mend things after this.
19:40I just hope that we can move on past this, and our families can get along and go from there.
19:47I think the doctrine of contributory negligence really was a perfect example out there today.
19:52And it really was surprising to me that they didn't seem to understand your logic as far as that was
19:58concerned, about you were negligent.
20:01You knew about the history.
20:02He was presenting the history in such a way that was meant to be harmful to the defendants, but in
20:08reality, it was really harmful to himself because he was the one that knew of all the same history and
20:14didn't protect his smaller dog.
20:16So, you know, the defendants did everything.
20:18I think it was evident by the fact that they ended up putting their dog down after this incident.
20:22They really tried to do everything they could to keep their dog under their control.
20:26They had the dog on a leash.
20:29So I think no one is above the rules.
20:33I also felt so sad for these two brothers.
20:36It seems that they're not kids, and they've enjoyed a lifetime of friendship as evidenced by the fact that they
20:46share this campsite for six months a year, and they're there every weekend.
20:50And it's clear to me that this sort of came between them, primarily because the plaintiff was pig-headed.
20:59Really.
21:00So hopefully after this incident, and maybe you got through to them a little, maybe they can mend that.
21:05Maybe. Hopefully.
21:06Yeah, hopefully.
21:09Want justice? Go to JudyJustice.tv.
21:50I'll see you next time.
21:50I'll see you next time.
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