Amritpal 'Paul' Dhaliwal and his brother Kulbir who survived a tiger attack at the San Francisco Zoo last year, have filed a lawsuit against the zoo amongst others, claiming that their civil rights had been violated. The attack which took place on Christmas day last year resulted in the death of Carlos Sousa Jr., 17, a friend of Paul, while Paul and his brother were seriously injured. The police fired at the animal after it attacked Sousa, killing it. The Siberian tiger, named Tatiana, attacked the three boys after escaping from her enclosure.
The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in San Francisco comes after a claim for monetary damages was denied by city attorney Dennis Herrera. In denying the claim Herrera's office stated that there was no indication that the city and county were liable for the attack. They directed the brothers to file a claim with the San Francisco Zoological Society, the non-profit organization that runs the zoo.
The brothers contend in the lawsuit that they suffered severe injuries and emotional trauma as a result of the attack.
Sousa's family is also expected to sue the city and the zoo.
Pic courtesy Domenico Photography from flickr.com
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