Utah man must pay for permission to sue officer who killed his dog
Salt Lake City resident Sean Kendall's dog, Geist, was shot and killed by a police officer searching for a missing child in 2014. Following local uproar, the city offered Kendall a $10,000 settlement, which he rejected, arguing that "It would be like, 'For $10,000 you can break into my backyard and kill my dog.' That's not right."
But if he wants to sue the cop responsible for Geist's death, Kendall will need much, much more than $10,000. That's because Utah law requires anyone who wants to sue the police to pay the officer's court costs and attorney fees up front — a bill that could easily run into the tens of thousands, and which would only be reimbursed should Kendall win his case.
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