On 06/17/2020 INLAND VALLEY HUMANE SOCIETY ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF POMONA filed an Other lawsuit against JORGE HIDALGO. This case was filed in Los Angeles County Superior Courts, Spring Street Courthouse located in Los Angeles, California. The Judge overseeing this case is JAMES E. BLANCARTE. The case status is Pending - Other Pending.
*******1937
06/17/2020
Pending - Other Pending
Los Angeles County Superior Courts
Spring Street Courthouse
Los Angeles, California
JAMES E. BLANCARTE
INLAND VALLEY HUMANE SOCIETY ON BEHALF OF THE CITY OF POMONA
HIDALGO JORGE
HASSELL MICHELINA J.
7/21/2020: Minute Order - Minute Order (Hearing on Petition for Determination of Vicious Dog and Impo...)
7/23/2020: Notice (name extension) - Notice of Entry of Order/Judgment on the City's Petition for Determination of Vicous Dog and Imposition of Fines
6/23/2020: Certificate of Mailing for - Certificate of Mailing for (Court Order Re: Hearing on Petition for Determination of Vici...) of 06/23/2020
6/23/2020: Minute Order - Minute Order (Court Order Re: Hearing on Petition for Determination of Vici...)
6/24/2020: Proof of Service by Mail - Proof of Service by Mail
6/17/2020: Civil Case Cover Sheet - Civil Case Cover Sheet
6/17/2020: Notice of Hearing on Petition - Notice of Hearing on Petition
6/17/2020: Declaration (name extension) - Declaration of Claudia Segura
6/17/2020: Declaration (name extension) - Declaration of Animal Control Officer Daniel Pena in Support of Petition for Determination of Vicious Dog and Imposition of Fines
6/17/2020: Notice of Case Assignment - Limited Civil Case - Notice of Case Assignment - Limited Civil Case
6/17/2020: Summons - Summons on Petition
6/17/2020: Petition (name extension) - Petition for Determination of Vicious Dog and Imposition of Fines; Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support Thereof
6/17/2020: First Amended Standing Order - First Amended Standing Order
DocketNotice of Entry of Order/Judgment on the City's Petition for Determination of Vicous Dog and Imposition of Fines; Filed by: Inland Valley Humane Society on behalf of the City of Pomona (Petitioner); As to: Jorge Hidalgo (Respondent)
DocketMinute Order (Hearing on Petition for Determination of Vicious Dog and Impo...)
DocketHearing on Petition for Determination of Vicious Dog and Imposition of Fines; Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support Thereof scheduled for 07/21/2020 at 10:30 AM in Spring Street Courthouse at Department 25 updated: Result Date to 07/21/2020; Result Type to Held - Motion Granted
DocketProof of Service by Mail; Filed by: Inland Valley Humane Society on behalf of the City of Pomona (Petitioner); As to: Jorge Hidalgo (Respondent)
DocketHearing on Petition for Determination of Vicious Dog and Imposition of Fines; Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support Thereof scheduled for 07/21/2020 at 10:30 AM in Spring Street Courthouse at Department 25
DocketMinute Order (Court Order Re: Hearing on Petition for Determination of Vici...)
DocketCertificate of Mailing for (Court Order Re: Hearing on Petition for Determination of Vici...) of 06/23/2020; Filed by: Clerk
DocketOn the Court's own motion, Hearing on Petition for Determination of Vicious Dog and Imposition of Fines; Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support Thereof scheduled for 10/21/2020 at 08:30 AM in Spring Street Courthouse at Department 25 Not Held - Advanced and Continued - by Court was rescheduled to 07/21/2020 10:30 AM
DocketPetition for Determination of Vicious Dog and Imposition of Fines; Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support Thereof; Filed by: Inland Valley Humane Society on behalf of the City of Pomona (Petitioner); As to: Jorge Hidalgo (Respondent)
DocketCase assigned to Hon. James E. Blancarte in Department 25 Spring Street Courthouse
DocketDeclaration of Animal Control Officer Daniel Pena in Support of Petition for Determination of Vicious Dog and Imposition of Fines; Filed by: Inland Valley Humane Society on behalf of the City of Pomona (Petitioner); As to: Jorge Hidalgo (Respondent)
DocketSummons on Petition; Issued and Filed by: Inland Valley Humane Society on behalf of the City of Pomona (Petitioner); As to: Jorge Hidalgo (Respondent)
DocketCivil Case Cover Sheet; Filed by: Inland Valley Humane Society on behalf of the City of Pomona (Petitioner); As to: Jorge Hidalgo (Respondent)
DocketDeclaration of Claudia Segura; Filed by: Inland Valley Humane Society on behalf of the City of Pomona (Petitioner); As to: Jorge Hidalgo (Respondent)
DocketNotice of Hearing on Petition; Filed by: Clerk
DocketNotice of Case Assignment - Limited Civil Case; Filed by: Clerk
DocketFirst Amended Standing Order; Filed by: Clerk
DocketHearing on Petition for Determination of Vicious Dog and Imposition of Fines; Memorandum of Points and Authorities in Support Thereof scheduled for 10/21/2020 at 08:30 AM in Spring Street Courthouse at Department 25
Case Number: 20STCP01937 Hearing Date: July 21, 2020 Dept: 25
PETITION TO DETERMINE IF DOG IS VICIOUS
(Food & Agric. Code § 31603)
TENTATIVE RULING:
Petitioner Inland Valley Humane Society’s Petition for Determination of Vicious Dog is GRANTED. In addition, Respondent is ordered to pay a fine of $500.00 to the City of Pomona as well as fees and costs to Petitioner in the amount of $1,181.00. within thirty (30) days of this order.
SERVICE:
[X] Proof of Service Timely Filed (CRC, rule 3.1300) OK
[X] Correct Address (CCP §§ 1013, 1013a) OK
[X] 16/21 Court Days Lapsed (CCP §§ 12c, 1005(b)) OK
OPPOSITION: None filed as of July 17, 2020 [ ] Late [X] None
REPLY: None filed as of July 17, 2020 [ ] Late [X] None
ANALYSIS:
Background
On June 17, 2020, Petitioner Inland Valley Humane Society (“Petitioner”) filed the instant Petition for Determination of Vicious Dog and Imposition of Fines (the “Petition”) against Respondent Jorge Hidalgo (“Respondent”). On June 23, 2020, the Court found that the hearing on the Petition was incorrectly scheduled it, and scheduled it for July 21, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. (6/23/20 Minute Order.) On June 24, 2020, Petitioner filed a proof of service demonstrating Respondent was served with the Petition and notice of hearing on June 23, 2020 via certified mail, return receipt requested. (6/24/20 Proof of Service.)
Legal Standard
“‘Vicious dog’ means any of the following:
(a) Any dog that, when unprovoked, in an aggressive manner, inflicts severe injury on or kills a human being.
(b) Any dog previously determined to be and currently listed as a potentially dangerous dog that, after its owner or keeper has been notified of this determination, continues the behavior described in Section 31602 or is maintained in violation of Section 31641, 31642, or 31643.”
(Food & Agric. Code, § 31603.)
The Food & Agricultural Code section 31604 defines “severe injury” as “any physical injury to a human being that results in muscle tears or disfiguring lacerations or requires multiple sutures or corrective or cosmetic surgery.”
In addition, Food & Agricultural Code section 31626 provides several circumstances in which a dog may not be declared dangerous or vicious:
“(a) No dog may be declared potentially dangerous or vicious if any injury or damage is sustained by a person who, at the time the injury or damage was sustained, was committing a willful trespass or other tort upon premises occupied by the owner or keeper of the dog, or was teasing, tormenting, abusing, or assaulting the dog, or was committing or attempting to commit a crime. No dog may be declared potentially dangerous or vicious if the dog was protecting or defending a person within the immediate vicinity of the dog from an unjustified attack or assault. No dog may be declared potentially dangerous or vicious if an injury or damage was sustained by a domestic animal which at the time the injury or damage was sustained was teasing, tormenting, abusing, or assaulting the dog.
(b) No dog may be declared potentially dangerous or vicious if the injury or damage to a domestic animal was sustained while the dog was working as a hunting dog, herding dog, or predator control dog on the property of, or under the control of, its owner or keeper, and the damage or injury was to a species or type of domestic animal appropriate to the work of the dog.”
A finding that the dog is potentially dangerous or vicious must be made upon a preponderance of the evidence. (See Food & Agric. Code, § 31621.)
Discussion
A. Determination that Dog is Vicious
Petitioner seeks a determination that Kaliman or Caliman, an adult male, brindle and white Belgian Malinois (“Kaliman”) owned by Respondent, is vicious as defined by Food and Agricultural Code section 31603, subdivision (a). (Pet., p. 2:3-8.) The Petition is supported by the declaration of Inland Valley Humane Society Animal Cruelty Investigator, Daniel Pena (“Officer Pena”), the Declaration of Claudia Segura (“Segura”), and an Investigation Report created by Officer Pena.
On May 1, 2020, Officer Pena was notified of a severe dog bite incident that occurred at 1315 South San Antonio Ave., in the City of Pomona. (Pet., Pena Decl., ¶ 5.) The reporting party, Ms. Segura, and Respondent live at the same address. (Pet. Segura Decl., ¶ 1.) Ms. Segura reported to Officer Pena that on April 30, 2020, herself, her husband, her children, and their small dog were on the front porch of her home. (Pet., Pena Decl., ¶ 8; Segura Decl., ¶ 2.) When Ms. Segura’s young daughter followed their small dog onto the grass to pick it up, Kaliman attacked and bit her. (Id.) The bite resulted in a severe laceration to her upper left thigh that required several stitches. (Pet., Pena Decl., ¶¶ 5, 8; Segura Decl., ¶¶ 1-3, Exh. 1.) After seeking care for her daughter’s injury and returning home from the hospital, Ms. Segura states that Respondent turned to Kaliman and said, “next time, bite her head or her hands off.” (Pet., Segura Decl., ¶ 2.) Ms. Segura also states that Kaliman had twice previously bitten her children, but those incidents were not reported because the bites were not as severe. (Pet., Pena Decl., ¶ 8; Segura Decl., ¶ 4.)
Based on the evidence presented, the Court finds Kaliman caused severe injuries, as defined by Food & Agricultural Code section 31604, to Ms. Segura’s daughter in an unprovoked manner. None of the exceptions provided by Food & Agricultural Code section 31626 appear to apply here. Notably, Respondent has not submitted any evidence to demonstrate otherwise.
Therefore, the Court finds, by a preponderance of the evidence, that Kaliman is vicious as defined by Section 31603.
B. Destruction
Petitioner also requests that Kaliman be destroyed pursuant to Food & Agricultural Code section 31645. (Pet., p. 4:27-5:1.)
Food and Agricultural Code section 31645 provides, in relevant part:
(a) A dog determined to be a vicious dog may be destroyed by the animal control department when it is found, after proceedings conducted under Article 2 (commencing with Section 31621), that the release of the dog would create a significant threat to the public health, safety, and welfare.
(b) If it is determined that a dog found to be vicious shall not be destroyed, the judicial authority shall impose conditions upon the ownership of the dog that protects the public health, safety, and welfare.
(Food & Agric. Code, § 31645, subds. (a), (b).)
Given that Kaliman attacked children on at least three occasions and that Respondent appears to encourage this kind of aggressive behavior, the Court finds that releasing Kaliman would be a threat to the public health and safety. Respondent has not submitted any evidence to demonstrate otherwise. Thus, the Court orders the destruction of Kaliman by the animal control department.
C. Fines
Lastly, Petitioner seeks costs and the imposition of a fine against Respondent. (Pet., p. 6:2-19.)
If a dog is adjudicated potentially dangerous or vicious, the owner or keeper of the dog shall be liable to the city or county where the dog is impounded for the costs and expenses of keeping the dog. (Food & Agric. Code, § 31625, subd. (a).)
Here, IVHS took Kaliman into custody on May 1, 2020, and has remained in custody since then. (Mot., Pena Decl., ¶ 11.) Thus, Petitioner is entitled to a total of $1,181.00 in costs, which includes $810.00 for the cost kenneling Kaliman at a rate of $10.00 per day and $371.00 in other expenses. (Id., Exh. B.)
In addition, Food and Agricultural Code section 31662 requires that a violation involving a vicious dog be punished by a fine not to exceed $1,000.00. Any fines imposed must be paid to the city or county in which the violation occurred to defray the costs of implementing these regulations. (Food & Agric. Code, § 31663.) Thus, the Court imposes a fine of $500.00 to be paid to the City of Pomona.
Conclusion & Order
For the foregoing reasons, Petitioner Inland Valley Humane Society’s Petition for Determination of Vicious Dog is GRANTED. In addition, Respondent is ordered to pay a fine of $500.00 to the City of Pomona as well as fees and costs to Petitioner in the amount of $1,181.00. within thirty (30) days of this order.
Moving party is ordered to give notice.