SALT LAKE CITY — The city is asking a federal judge to force the owner of a dog shot and killed by police to accept a $10,000 settlement.
In a counterclaim filed in federal court against Sean Kendall, attorneys for Salt Lake City ask the judge to enforce a settlement offer they claim was previously agreed upon.
Kendall has filed a $1.5 million lawsuit against the city and the police officer who shot his dog, Geist. The counterclaim was included in a response to the lawsuit where the city acknowledged and denied some of the accusations.
Geist’s owner, Sean Kendall, at a rally against the shooting.
In 2014, a Salt Lake City police officer responding to a report of a missing child (later found at his own home) entered Kendall’s backyard to look for the boy and encountered Geist, a 2-year-old Weimaraner. The dog, reacting to an intruder, ran at Officer Brett Olson, who shot and killed him.
The shooting sparked protests. A review of the officer’s actions determined he did not violate any city policies.
In the counterclaim, Salt Lake City alleges Kendall’s previous lawyer communicated a $10,000 settlement offer to them and said Kendall would sign an agreement. However, the counterclaim acknowledges, Kendall told reporters he was rejecting the settlement. (Kendall’s current lawyer is former Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson.)
“Kendall offered to settle all claims related to the shooting of his dog, Geist, for the sum of $10,000,” the counterclaim states. “The City accepted that offer. Kendall has now filed this action in breach of that agreement.”
Kendall’s lawsuit against Salt Lake City was originally filed in state court, but was recently moved to federal court.
