The Texas Supreme Court will hear arguments on Jan. 10 in a case that has attracted national attention for the legal and emotional question it presents: Should the state’s civil justice system put a price tag on the love of a dog?
That question has been on the minds of various business, government and advocacy groups ever since Fort Worth’s 2nd Court of Appeals decided Kathryn and Jeremy Medlen v. Carla Strickland on Nov. 3, 2011. In that case, the 2nd Court ruled that dog owners can recover damages from a defendant based on the “sentimental value” related to the loss of their pet.
