An Illinois
man is suing a cat owner, who may or may not be his wife, for $100,000, after the animal "viciously attacked" him while he was cat sitting.
William Baxter says he was cat sitting for Christine Bobak at his home in Homer Glen in 2011 when the cat launched an unprovoked attack while he tried to feed it, according to a lawsuit filed last month. The pet reportedly "viciously attacked, bit, and clawed" Baxter, who claims to have suffered serious injuries from a bite on his ring finger and the clawing of his left arm.
Special: Should the Supreme Court Legalize Gay Marriage? Vote in Urgent Poll.
Baxter is seeking $50,000 for each of the two counts and blames Bobak, who he argues should have known the cat was dangerous, as it had attacked at least one other person before.
The case is even more complicated, the Chicago Sun-Times points out, because a Facebook profile for a Billy Baxter who lives in Home Glen is listed as "married" to a Christine Bobak Baxter. It's unclear whether those two are the same people involved in the case.
Michael Shammas, Baxter's lawyer,
declined to comment on the relationship between Baxter and Bobak.
"That's not something I really want to get into and talk about," Shammas told Gawker. "I'd rather keep it in the courthouse."
The Sun-Times story drew lots of reader feedback.
"I've never heard of a cat attack that caused permanent damage," one person wrote. "It will never hold up in court but it will waste tax payers' money."
"Animals are good judges of character," another said. "He was probably mean to the cat."
A hearing is scheduled for July 10.
Editor's Note: The IRS’ Worst Nightmare — How to Pay Zero Taxes
Related stories:
Massachusetts Man Attacked by Bobcat in Garage; Gun Comes in Handy
Study Finds Cats Are Killing Machines
Pet Hedgehogs Harbor Dangerous Salmonella