Strickland v. Medlen

The Medlens' (plaintiffs') family dog, Avery, escaped and was picked up by animal control; Jeremy Medlen went to retrieve him but lacked funds to take him home immediately, and though a hold-for-owner tag was placed on Avery's cage, shelter worker Carla Strickland (defendant) mistakenly put him on the euthanasia list, and he was put down before the Medlens returned. The Medlens sued Strickland for causing Avery's death, seeking noneconomic, emotional loss-of-companionship damages; the trial court dismissed the claim, but the court of appeals reversed, holding a dog owner could recover such intangible damages, and the Texas Supreme Court granted review.