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Deadly Force and The Family Dog: Legal Remedies and Litigation Strategies against Police

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Price

$49 for Members
$79 for Non-Member
$0 for Patron Members
$0 for CLE All-Access Pass
$0 for Office of the San Diego City Attorney
$0 for Law Students

60 minutes
Date Published

April 15, 2026

Publisher

San Diego County Bar Association

Questions

For immediate assistance please consult our FAQ page. If you're unable to find the answer you need, please call 619-321-4133 (M-F, 8AM - 4:30 PM PT) or e-mail customer service.

Summary


 

This CLE examines civil liability and litigation strategies arising from law enforcement’s use of deadly force against companion animals. It covers constitutional and state-law claims, evidentiary challenges, and valuation of damages when a family pet is killed by police. The program also explores pre-litigation advocacy and settlement strategies to resolve cases efficiently and ethically.

The discussion will highlight key procedural considerations, common defenses, and practical litigation obstacles that arise in these cases. Presenters will also address damages theories, emotional distress considerations, and how courts approach the classification and valuation of companion animals. Attendees will leave with practical tools for evaluating claims, advising clients, and navigating these sensitive and often complex matters.

SWOD-27451

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Presenters

Jill Ryther

Jill L. Ryther grew up in Michigan and graduated with honors from the University of Michigan, receiving her Bachelor of Arts... Read More

Daniel Kolde
Civil rights Attorney - Kolde Law


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Program Titles and Supporting Materials

This program contains the following components:

Media Files
Deadly Force and The Family Dog: Legal Remedies and Litigation Strategies against Police Video
Downloadable Files
Deadly Force and The Family Dog: Legal Remedies and Litigation Strategies against Police Handout
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Credit

If applicable, you may obtain credit in multiple jurisdictions simultaneously for this program (see pending/approved list below). If electing credit for this program, registrants in jurisdictions not listed below will receive a Certificate of Completion that may or may not meet credit requirements in other jurisdictions. Where applicable, credit will be only awarded to a paid registrant completing all the requirements of the program as determined by the selected accreditation authority.

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How to Attend

Join the self-paced program from your office, home, or hotel room using a computer and high speed internet connection. You may start and stop the program at your convenience, continue where you left off, and review supporting materials as often as you like. Please note: Internet Explorer is no longer a supported browser. We recommend using Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox or Safari for best results.

Technical Requirements
You may access this course on a computer or mobile device with high speed internet (iPhones require iOS 10 or higher). Recommended browsers are Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.

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