A television producer who sued the man known as the “Dog Whisperer” because his dog “collapsed” while on a treadmill settled his lawsuit, a court official said Friday.
Flody Suarez alleged his pet Labrador was injured during a workout at Cesar Millan‘s training facility on Feb. 27, 2006.
Suarez took his 5-year-old dog, Gator, to Millan’s “Dog Psychology Center of Los Angeles” so the animal could be socialized with other dogs and overcome his fear of strangers, the lawsuit stated.
The lawsuit stated that while at the facility, staff put a choke chain around Gator’s neck and for the first time in his life he was put on a treadmill, where he “collapsed” after being overworked.
As a result, Gator had to undergo several surgeries and was fed with a tube for several weeks, the lawsuit stated.
Suarez sued Millan last May 4, alleging breach of contract, negligence, fraud and deceit, and both intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress.
Millan claimed that Suarez’s personal dog trainer was with Gator the entire time the Labrador was at the Dog Psychology Center and that he allowed the trainer to bring Gator to the center as a favor and did not charge for use of the facilities.
The settlement notice was filed March 29 with Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Kenneth Freeman, prompting cancellation of Friday’s scheduled motions hearing.
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It is a shame this producer Floyd did this, I heard he had his own trainer, not Cesar who was suppose to be watching Gator on the treadmill. This man has now probably ruined it for anyone else wanting to use the facility. People today are so sue happy, it is really sad. Cesar seems like a nice person, I’m sure he would have taken care of this matter without a lawsuit if this Floyd had contacted him.
I find it hard to believe that Floyds medical bills for the dog were as high as he claimed. Oh well I guess the moral of the story is never let anyone use your facilities when you are not there to supervise, and never lend anyone a ladder, if they fall off it they can sue. It is a shame this happened, I would think this could have been settled without a lawsuit if Floyd would have just contacted Cesar and talked to him about what happened. Why didn’t Floyd go after his own trainer, the one who was suppose to be watching Gator on the treadmill, seems to me like this was his fault.