By Luke Thomas
May 9, 2008
The San Francisco City Attorney’s office today denied claims seeking unlimited financial damages by two victims of a tiger attack at the San Francisco Zoo on Christmas Day.
“An investigation of your client’s claim filed with the City and County of San Francisco has revealed no indication of liability on the part of the City and County,” Joe Abad, an adjuster with the City Attorney’s Office wrote in two letters dated May 8 to law firm Geragos and Geragos. “Accordingly, your claim has been DENIED.”
Claimants Amritpal Dhaliwal, 19, and Kulbir Dhaliwal, 24, were attacked by a Siberian tigress that managed to escape its grotto December 25, fatally mauling Carlos Sousa Jr., 17, and injuring the Dhaliwals before being shot dead by police.
An investigation following the attack revealed the height of the tiger grotto’s moat wall was below national standards. The zoo subsequently rectified the safety deficiency and reopened the zoo following its two-month closure.
The City Attorney has referred claimants to take up their claims with the San Francisco Zoo Society and its insurer.
Documents obtained by Fog City Journal reveal the San Francisco Zoo Society insurance policy is underwritten by a consortium of underwriters. The policy provides upto $15 million for “excess/umbrella liability.”
Luke Thomas
Luke Thomas is a former software developer and computer consultant who proudly hails from London, England. In 2001, Thomas took a yearlong sabbatical to travel and develop a photographic portfolio. Upon his return to the US, Thomas studied photojournalism to pursue a career in journalism. In 2004, Thomas worked for several neighborhood newspapers in San Francisco before accepting a partnership agreement with the SanFranciscoSentinel.com, a news website formerly covering local, state and national politics. In September 2006, Thomas launched FogCityJournal.com. The BBC, CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox News, New York Times, Der Spiegel, San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco Magazine, 7x7, San Francisco Examiner, San Francisco Bay Guardian and the San Francisco Weekly, among other publications and news outlets, have published his work. Thomas is a member of the Freelance Unit of the Pacific Media Workers Guild, TNG-CWA Local 39521 and is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists.
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