Libel suit over dead cat postponed,
"cat-related" vandalism reported
YUBA CITY 10/24/02 -- A Sutter County judge Thursday delayed hearing a small claims libel lawsuit that pits a political candidate against the grieving owner of a dead cat until an unspecified date, almost certainly after voters have gone to the polls Nov. 5.
Superior Court Judge Perry Parker postponed the trial until Yuba City City Council candidate Jim Harrison cures defects in a subpoena he prepared for witness Anna Noble and she can be brought to court.
Harrison, a former California Highway Patrol officer, had neglected to fill out the entire subpoena form and "whited-out" some entries, Parker said.
In all likelihood, he will not be able to redo the subpoena and have it served on Noble before Election Day, Harrison said after the hearing.
Harrison sued Scott Kingham Aug. 23 for $5,000 for libel and "malicious persecution" after Kingham posted an allegedly defamatory flyer around their upscale neighborhood warning other pet owners of Harrison's trapping program.
Harrison said he took to trapping trespassing cats because they made messes in his wife's garden.
Kingham counter-sued for about $2,600 seeking costs that included veterinarian services over Barney's lifetime, a forensic autopsy, cremation and disposal.
Meanwhile, Parker allowed both men to read the county animal control officer's report on the investigation into the trap death, as well as the autopsy report by the family vet. These documents were otherwise sealed by the court and not open to view.
Some voters have said the circumstances of Barney's death led them to revise their votes for city council, making it something of an issue in the campaign.
After the hearing, Harrison said that, generally speaking, he had received "more support than flak" in the wake of Barney's death. However, in the last few days two vandalism incidents occurred that may have been Barney-related, Harrison said.
On Tuesday, someone drove over his "well-manicured lawn" and knocked down his campaign. There was a similar event Wednesday, although no sign was involved that time, Harrison reported.
When police interviewed a 17-year-old Yuba City High School student about the incidents, the boy admitted to the first incident, but not the second, Harrison said.
"He told the police it was 'cat-related'. He said he swerved to avoid a cat," Harrison said.
"I think there's a pet-lovers club at the high school," Harrison said.
There are no campus chapters of Pet Life, PETA, or any similar organization listed with the Associated Student Body, Yuba City High School Principal Bill Highland said.
"cat-related" vandalism reported
YUBA CITY 10/24/02 -- A Sutter County judge Thursday delayed hearing a small claims libel lawsuit that pits a political candidate against the grieving owner of a dead cat until an unspecified date, almost certainly after voters have gone to the polls Nov. 5.
Superior Court Judge Perry Parker postponed the trial until Yuba City City Council candidate Jim Harrison cures defects in a subpoena he prepared for witness Anna Noble and she can be brought to court.
Harrison, a former California Highway Patrol officer, had neglected to fill out the entire subpoena form and "whited-out" some entries, Parker said.
In all likelihood, he will not be able to redo the subpoena and have it served on Noble before Election Day, Harrison said after the hearing.
Harrison sued Scott Kingham Aug. 23 for $5,000 for libel and "malicious persecution" after Kingham posted an allegedly defamatory flyer around their upscale neighborhood warning other pet owners of Harrison's trapping program.
Harrison said he took to trapping trespassing cats because they made messes in his wife's garden.
Kingham counter-sued for about $2,600 seeking costs that included veterinarian services over Barney's lifetime, a forensic autopsy, cremation and disposal.
Meanwhile, Parker allowed both men to read the county animal control officer's report on the investigation into the trap death, as well as the autopsy report by the family vet. These documents were otherwise sealed by the court and not open to view.
Some voters have said the circumstances of Barney's death led them to revise their votes for city council, making it something of an issue in the campaign.
After the hearing, Harrison said that, generally speaking, he had received "more support than flak" in the wake of Barney's death. However, in the last few days two vandalism incidents occurred that may have been Barney-related, Harrison said.
On Tuesday, someone drove over his "well-manicured lawn" and knocked down his campaign. There was a similar event Wednesday, although no sign was involved that time, Harrison reported.
When police interviewed a 17-year-old Yuba City High School student about the incidents, the boy admitted to the first incident, but not the second, Harrison said.
"He told the police it was 'cat-related'. He said he swerved to avoid a cat," Harrison said.
"I think there's a pet-lovers club at the high school," Harrison said.
There are no campus chapters of Pet Life, PETA, or any similar organization listed with the Associated Student Body, Yuba City High School Principal Bill Highland said.
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