More on Rik, Kimba & LC from Sign On Sandiego.
Espinosa told jurors that, for health reasons, he would not have entered the building had he known the cat, which library employees had adopted, was there.
The cat stood, arched its back, jumped to the floor and touched noses with Kimba, said Espinosa, who is representing himself.
Then “the cat went nuts,” the plaintiff said. “It started scratching Kimba. At times, all four claws were embedded around Kimba’s nose and eyes.”
Under cross-examination by attorney Steve Nelson, the plaintiff conceded that no one ever told him he was not allowed in the library.
Library employees eventually gave up the cat after it attacked another animal six months later.
The plaintiff originally was asking for $1.5 million, but after Vista Superior Court Judge Yuri Hoffman ruled against him on a number of motions, he lowered the total to $15,000.
This Story has a photo, of Rik and Kimba.
One man, who was not picked as a juror, said he didn’t have any reason to be biased in the case but told the judge he had another concern.
“I wish it was the dog suing the cat,” the man joked. “We’ve all used the word ‘frivolous,’ but I think the dog has a real case.”
This One Says Among the items that Espinosa wants the jury to see is a photograph of him with boxer Muhammad Ali. Nelson said the picture is not relevant to the case; Espinosa said the photo gives him credibility.
It also strengthens his argument, Espinosa said, since he believes the cat is like the famed pugilist: a tiger in the ring, a pussycat outside of it. L.C.’s ring, the Palomar Mountain resident said, was the library on South Kalmia Street.
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