Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Indiana

On April 18-20, 2015, I left on a weekend trip to go camping and I left my ~2 year old husky in the paid care of a roommate (Reilly). Prior to leaving, I constructed what I thought was a solid wall to keep the dog on one side of the unfinished basement, thus having more room to play/sleep while I was gone but so she could also stay out of trouble. The wall I constructed intersected a work bench bolted to the basement wall. I had worked out to pay Reilly 100 a month to watch my dog when i was gone, whenever I needed him to. This was a weekend camping trip so I did not suspect anything would happen. Reilly knew I was leaving, knew I had tried to set up the basement and he knew the dog was in his care. While I was away there was a thunderstorm and my dog knocked over a box of sentimental papers/newspaper clippings of a third roommate(Josh). Upon my arrival I found my dog slightly neglected, covered in mud and in the flooded basement still. I went downstairs to see the box overturned on the "off limits" side of the wall I constructed. I did not notice any damage minus a few paper clippings ripped/chewed and a broken picture frame as well as some mud on the papers due to the flooded basement. I picked up said box, placed it upright on the table with ease, all contents still in the box except the few newspaper scraps and broken frame, and attended to my dog. Weeks pass and I go of town for work, my dog in the care of a different 3rd roommate (Cam), and I receive threats of violence to myself and my dog from Josh I received multiple threats via text and still have every text sent and received. I am shipping to basic training August 10 for the Indiana national guard, and Josh is threatening to sue me for damages and implying he would do so simply to cause problems with my shipment. He is a dangerous individual. I felt unsafe for my dog, myself and my property. I am in the process of moving out, my dog is already out of the house indefinitely. Does he have any legal right to sue me? Especially considering my dog was in the care of another person? And what action can/should I take?


Asked on 5/26/15, 11:10 am

1 Answer from Attorneys

Burton Padove Indiana and Illinois Lawyer, Burton A. Padove

If you have texts that he is threatening to harm you, you should consider going to the police department

and filing a report. You may also be able to obtain a protective order.

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Answered on 5/26/15, 11:55 am


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