Boy Falls into African Painted Dog Exhibit at Piitsburgh Zoo Dies

[nao]

If it was more common for children to get mauled or have close encounters at zoos, i would agree with suing.
But the only stories i recall are of adults who ignore the signs and obvious dangers, and try to feed or enter the animals enclosures. This can result in crminal charges or missing limbs etc.
There were signs and warning pics, why is this different than traffic signs. jmo

 

[Nova]

If it was more common for children to get mauled or have close encounters at zoos, i would agree with suing.
But the only stories i recall are of adults who ignore the signs and obvious dangers, and try to feed or enter the animals enclosures. This can result in crminal charges or missing limbs etc.
There were signs and warning pics, why is this different than traffic signs. jmo

Despite signs, we have hundreds of lawsuits over traffic incidents every year. It's the American way!

 

[Skagirl]

I wonder what the tort laws are in Pennslyvania? In Iowa, we don't have negligence, we have comparative fault, so I'm curious to know Pennslyvania...

 

[Nova]

I wonder what the tort laws are in Pennslyvania? In Iowa, we don't have negligence, we have comparative fault, so I'm curious to know Pennslyvania...

Same thing in PA: the negligence of the plaintiff does not excuse or erase the negligence of the defendant.


http://law.onecle.com/pennsylvania/judiciary-and-judicial-procedure/00.071.002.000.html

 

[Perodicticus potto]

Despite signs, we have hundreds of lawsuits over traffic incidents every year. It's the American way!

It's hard to defeat the "it can't happen to me" attitude.

 

[Nova]

It's hard to defeat the "it can't happen to me" attitude.

True. Not to mention the "I brought my kid to the zoo because I'm exhausted and want to keep him occupied, not because I want to watch him like a hawk" attitude.

I'm not defending the mother's negligence.

But the zoo could have redesigned the exhibit to protect the child, who can't be anything but innocent in all this. Other zoos could as well and a suit may help to accomplish that.

 

[Linda7NJ]

True. Not to mention the "I brought my kid to the zoo because I'm exhausted and want to keep him occupied, not because I want to watch him like a hawk" attitude.

I'm not defending the mother's negligence.

But the zoo could have redesigned the exhibit to protect the child, who can't be anything but innocent in all this. Other zoos could as well and a suit may help to accomplish that.

That child never would have made it to where he fell from on his own.

 

[Nova]

That child never would have made it to where he fell from on his own.

I wasn't suggesting that he did, Linda. And maybe his mother was paying better attention than we think and the child simply squirmed out of her grip. But such things happen and zoos should do whatever can be done to prevent them.

I can't help but think of the fact that the zoo thought to put up netting to catch cameras and sunglasses, but didn't think to protect children. I'm not saying the Zoo doesn't care about children; I think this was an oversight.

But a lawsuit is the way we teach corporations to pay better attention in the future.

 

[Linda7NJ]

I wasn't suggesting that he did, Linda. And maybe his mother was paying better attention than we think and the child simply squirmed out of her grip. But such things happen and zoos should do whatever can be done to prevent them.

I can't help but think of the fact that the zoo thought to put up netting to catch cameras and sunglasses, but didn't think to protect children. I'm not saying the Zoo doesn't care about children; I think this was an oversight.

But a lawsuit is the way we teach corporations to pay better attention in the future.

I still respectfully disagree.

I liken it to the escalators at shopping malls. I can't even count how many times I personally have saved some loose toddler from attempting going down all alone. I don't even go to the mall all that often. So I believe children get hurt all the time on them. I don't believe the mall is at fault or the manufacturer of the escalators.

Many things in life come with inherent risks.
People do stupid things all the time ... It's no one else's fault or responsibility. Sometimes "accidents" happen and sometimes the complete lack of common sense is to blame, like in this case.



I do

 

[nao]

There was a real life story - a woman crossed a hwy -where there was no crossing but many people did at same spot-her child got hit -she was convicted (i think) of murder, it was an accident, many people crossed at the same spot, she ignored the rules and signs and was charged (which i think was cruel) it was an accident.

My parent people used to ask if so and so jumped of a roof would you do the same-ofcourse the right answer is no.

Every person that ignored the signs at the african wild dog exibit made a personal choice.

Maybe zoos need to get people to sign a waiver and acknowledge that if they(the pubic) do not abide by the rules, the public will be sued for endangering the wildlife.

I read a book about 4 decades ago -i wanted an african wilddog as a pet(probably could of got one at that time) Solo was the books name. It was very educational and as a child i understood the african wilddog is highly intelligent and complex, not a good pet.

That zoo had got the wilddogs to breed-had managed to make an enviroment where the wilddogs were replicating their life in the wild- thats like same as going to the moon.

i am disillusioned , these should be protected animals, people facebook it up for delinquent dogs, of which there are millions - but not for the wilddogs which are so few.
I also wonder if social status as the mother - white upper class makes the rules bend
JMO

 

[Cracka*Jaxx]

I read a book about 4 decades ago -i wanted an african wilddog as a pet(probably could of got one at that time) Solo was the books name. It was very educational and as a child i understood the african wilddog is highly intelligent and complex, not a good pet.

Knowing how I loved animals, my (now ex) hubby bought me that same book in the 1970's. When little Solo started falling behind, I got so upset that I just couldn't read it any more. I've always wanted to finish the book because, going by the book's cover pic, I think the authors finally intervened on his behalf.

I once almost put the book out at a yard sale, but couldn't. So ... I still have it! Pretty soon it's going to be an antique!

 

[nao]

aww Cracka*Jaxx it was an emotional read, i don't have the book any more, and im not sure when i read the book, i'm not sure of the ending, but it touched me ,and not many things do. It's just a small book but it might be all thats left of the wilddogs. Don't sell it, its history, and it's Solo-

 

[Nova]

I still respectfully disagree.

I liken it to the escalators at shopping malls. I can't even count how many times I personally have saved some loose toddler from attempting going down all alone. I don't even go to the mall all that often. So I believe children get hurt all the time on them. I don't believe the mall is at fault or the manufacturer of the escalators.

Many things in life come with inherent risks.
People do stupid things all the time ... It's no one else's fault or responsibility. Sometimes "accidents" happen and sometimes the complete lack of common sense is to blame, like in this case.



I do

But that's what a trial would determine: was the risk at the wild-dogs overlook "inherent" or preventable? Personally, I think a simple wire screen with large squares (8 to 10") would have solved the problem without spoiling the view or even preventing people from taking wire-free photos. Just my opinion, at this point, of course; but a trial could settle the issue.

P.S. The respect is mutual, of course. :blowkiss:

 

[nao]

a parallel case of who is responsible --the attacked child was apparently 120 feet behind the mother-thou i'm not sure how they'd know that for sure.
i picked this link for the -fore and against comments section .

http://www.adn.com/2013/06/20/2947082/death-penalty-hearing-for-sled.html
quote:
Lawyers for both sides battled for more than five hours Wednesday over whether the dog or the girl's family is to blame.

"There are many in this room who know full well that that young girl would not have been bitten if she had been at her mother's side," Berkowitz attorney Myron Angstman told the board.

Read more here: http://www.adn.com/2013/06/20/2947082/death-penalty-hearing-for-sled.html#storylink=cpy

 

[Darkman00]

"The family of a 2-year-old boy killed when he fell into the African painted dog exhibit last fall sued the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium today, saying officials were aware of questions about the exhibit's safety and didn't address them."

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/parents-sue-pittsburgh-zoo-in-boys-mauling-death-688841/

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/the-derkosh-familys-statement-on-the-filing-of-a-lawsuit-against-the-pittsburgh-zoo-688843/

Good for the family...

 

[Linda7NJ]

Good for the family...

Good for the family? To be rewarded for stupidity?

 

[tlcya]

I do not think that the mother should have been bashed by the public or charged for her own negligence in her child's death, it was a stupid negligent move on her part but there was no malice. It was an accident.

I also do not think the zoo should be sued and mom get a windfall for her stupidity.

IMO if the foreseeability was there for mom (and IMO it was) then it was there for the zoo. A wash. 50/50 negligence on both parties. Like in a car wreck where ins companies assign fault.

 

[Sonya610]

I'm not defending the mother's negligence.

But the zoo could have redesigned the exhibit to protect the child, who can't be anything but innocent in all this. Other zoos could as well and a suit may help to accomplish that.

Nova you have an incessant desire to play devil's advocate and stand up for the underdog (as do I, can't argue there).

The mother could have perched her child up on any railing and "let go" and that could have resulted in the child's death. Seriously who does that? Put your child on a railing and "let go"?. She was traumatized and needs to sue because the baby didn't die on impact? That is grounds for a lawsuit???

The fact she happened to do it despite numerous warning signs, and despite the fact if the drop didn't kill the child the wild animals below quite likely would is just.....errrrrmmmm....

The mother was clearly at fault here. Should the zoo administer IQ tests before letting the public enter the facility? Or should every zoo anticipate the idiot behaviors of every visitor even if their behaviors are not related to the animals? If zoo visitors decide to drop their baby on the head while walking down a paved walkway should the zoo be held liable? She placed her baby on a 20+ foot balcony and then let him fall into a pit of wild dogs!

If she placed her baby on the balcony of her railing of her deck and he fell off and broke his neck who would she sue? NO ONE. If she placed her baby on the railing at a parking garage or a mall, would she have a case? Not likely.

 

[Nova]

Sonya, you may be right on all counts. (Yes, I do think SOMEONE has to play devil's advocate or threads get rather dull--though that doesn't mean I don't believe my own arguments.)

But most urban/suburban Americans have little to no contact with wild animals, so, yes, a zoo does have a special responsibility to keep ignorant people safe from such animals. (I understand your point that the fall alone MIGHT have killed the child, but it did not.)

I wrote at the start that the Pittsburgh Zoo is my favorite and I have been there many times; but it's been more than a decade and I don't believe the wild dog exhibit was open when I was last there. So I admit I don't have a perfect mental picture of the overlook.

But the law specifically does NOT require perfect innocence as a precondition for filing suit. Negligence can be shared. And if it's that easy for a parent to lose a toddler over the railing, what about somewhat older children who may not be under a parent's close supervision?

 

[passionflower]

Did anyone ever investigate the mother?
Was it really an accident?
Many people in my area has wondered.
I may get time out for this.
Please delete if I am bad.
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