Dog Law 101: Custody and housing disputes, neglect, bites, veterinary malpractice and more

Anna Morrison-Ricordati | AMR Law Group

Anna Morrison-Ricordati practices animal law and civil litigation at AMR Law Group, LLC in Chicago, Illinois. Addressing all aspects of dispute resolution, Anna has represented individual and animal business clients in mediations, arbitrations, jury and bench trials, equitable remedies, and appeals. She Chaired the Illinois State Bar Association’s Animal Law Section Council for the 2010-2011 year, the Chicago Bar Association’s Animal Law Committee for the 2012-2013 year, DuPage County Animal Law Committee for the 2014-2015 year, and was awarded the Animal Welfare Leadership Award in 2018 from PAWS® Chicago. Anna has served as a CLE speaker on animal law topics for several organizations and bar associations, including the American Bar Association’s Tort, Trial & Insurance Practice Section in 2018, the International Animal Law Summit in 2019, and the Illinois State Bar Association in 2020 and 2021, among others.

I. Animal Law – Brief Overview | 2:00pm – 2:10 pm

• Emergence of Animal Law Field
• Civil Court Treatment of Animal Cases

II. Governing Law | 2:10pm – 2:30pm

• Federal
• State
• Municipal
  • Common Examples: Pet Limits, Breed Restrictions, etc.
  • Administrative Courts: Procedures & Appeals

III. Common Companion Animal Court Cases (w/ Example Cases & Pleadings) | 2:30pm – 3:00pm

• Bites (Administrative & Civil Litigation)
  • Defenses (Provocation, Assumption of Risk, etc.)
• Animal Custody Disputes
  • Divorce
  • Replevin
  • Specific Performance (Equity)
• Distinctions Between ESA, Service, & Therapy Animals
  • Housing Disputes
    • FHA
    • Municipal Laws
    • Other – HOA Restrictions
• Fraud
  • Pet Food & Animal Device Cases
  • Puppy Lemon Laws & Consumer Fraud
• Torts Involving Injury or Death
  • Intentional v. Negligent
  • Examples
    • Veterinary Malpractice
    • Cruelty/Torture
• Available Damages
  •  Valuation & Damages
  • Available Damages (Negligent v. Intentional Acts)
  •  Valuation Theories (Market, Actual or Other)

Break | 3:00pm – 3:10pm

IV. Police Shootings | 3:10pm – 3:30pm

• Federal & State Law Claims
• Making the Case: Witness Accounts, Reports & Other Evidence
• Defenses & Qualified Immunities
• Damages, Discipline & Training

V. Other Trend(s) | 3:30pm – 3:50pm

• Internet Petitions & Crowd Source Funding
• Pet Insurance (Health vs. Liability)
• Pet Leasing Laws
• Pet Sales & Anti-Puppy Mill Legislation
• Animal Advocate Bills

VI. Additional Topic(s) | 3:50pm – 4:10pm

• Pet Trusts
• International Events & Animal Protection Advocacy