Legal Question in Consumer Law in Pennsylvania

Seeking cat's pedigree

I purchased a male Ragdoll cat in June through a breeder in Lancaster, PA. This breeder did not own the cat, she had a ''previous agreement'' as she put it with another breeder in Portugal. I knew nothing about this agreement between the Lancaster breeder and the Portugal breeder. I gave the Lancaster breeder $700 (have the hand-written receipts) and I still do not have his pedigree. The breeder in Portugal has received very little payment toward this cat (since their deal fell through the Lancaster breeder is now responsible for payment of the cat) and until she is satisfied that she has received an appropriate amount from the Lancaster breeder she will not release his pedigree. The Lancaster breeder claims that I owe her an addtional $275 for shipping - she typed up a contract stating this which I never agreed to and therefore there is no signed contract. The Lancaster breeder says that when she receives the pedigree from Portugal she will not give it to me until I pay $275.

The breeder in Portugal is in COMPLETE agreement with me that we both have been victimized by this Lancaster breeder. How can I get the pedigree that I paid for and have waited nine months to receive?


Asked on 3/08/05, 10:47 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
John Corbett Corbett Law Firm LLC

Re: Seeking cat's pedigree

Sue. Before you do though, get a consultation with a New Jersey lawyer to see if there is any way that the suit can be brought in New Jersey. If there are sufficient contacts with New Jersey, it is possible that even the PA dealer is subject to the jurisdiction of the NJ courts. This would be an advantage for you since the NJ consumer fraud statute contains a provision for triple damages plus the mandatory award of attorney fees. A judgment won in NJ must be enforced by the PA courts. Your money damages will not be high, so the triple damage provision is not a big thing, but the award of attorney fees is.

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Answered on 3/08/05, 9:38 pm


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