Oregon family files suit over loss of dog

PORTLAND — The death of the family dog is always upsetting, but members of an Oregon family want $1.6 million from a neighbor for their suffering.

In addition to economic and punitive damages, Mark Greenup and his family in Estacada are asking a jury to award them compensation for the loss of companionship of their pet, which died after being run over by a neighbor.

Loss of companionship is a claim typically reserved for human relationships.

Legal experts are closely watching the case. They say if the family wins the lawsuit and subsequent appeals, that could help break the long-standing tradition of defining pets as property.

"Society recognizes that there can be a strong bond with people and their animals," said Sonia Waisman, a Los Angeles attorney and co-author of an animal-law casebook.

Grizz, a cocker spaniel and Labrador retriever mix, was run over by Raymond Weaver in 2004 and had to be euthanized.

Weaver's attorney, Larry Dawson, said the incident was an accident.

But Greenup and his family say Weaver drove over Grizz several times and didn't stop when they called out to him.

A Clackamas County Court convicted Weaver of animal abuse and reckless endangerment of a person last year in the criminal case.