Tatiana's Legacy Depends on San Francisco's Response

What do recording artist Michael Jackson, former Congressman Gary Condit, hip hop artist Nate Dogg, Bill Clinton´s brother Roger Clinton, actress Wynona Rider, and wife and baby murderer Scott Peterson have in common with Kulbir and Paul Dahliwal? Go ahead, take a guess. All alleged pedophiles? No. All alleged shoplifters? Don´t think so. All allegedly responsible for dead bodies littering their respective pasts? Hope not.

Though the aforementioned answers are correct for some, the correct answer is D) Mark Geragos.

Mark Geragos is a well-known, well-healed, slick, no nonsense attorney who has received prestigious awards such as Trial Lawyer of the Year by the Los Angeles Criminal Courts Bar Association. According to his website, he is one of two attorneys to ever receive Lawyer of the Year distinction "in both the criminal and civil arenas", only matching the inimitable Johnny Cochran. For three years in a row he has been named "One of the 100 Most Influential Attorneys in California" by the California Law Business Magazine, based on peer decision.

A good man to know? You bet, if you are looking to extract your derriere from a sling, gain some green cash money in a suitcase or just know that having him on your side can not hurt when your life is circling the drain. Unless one has resided under some geological formation for the past forty years, one knows the miraculous medicinal value of the green poultice: cold, hard cash. The best way to get it? A lawsuit. When one needs defense, one wants the best he or she can afford; and that best comes with a price. Whether monetarily retained or working on contingency, take at least 30% off the top as a start for that wonderful attorney. Negotiations start there, and we all know money talks.

Now, back to the Dahliwal brothers. Remember them? You know, the moronic idiots who tanked themselves up on drugs and booze then teased a tiger to her death? Yeah, them. While recuperating from their injuries, their family ran to a lawyer and cried foul; they are once again on the offensive--this time with a big gun attorney in their corner. Their position? The zoo was negligent and they have been "defamed". The law office of Mark Geragos filed claims this week with the city of San Francisco citing emotional and physical injuries. Ok, so far that is understandably the American Way.

Negligence?

Yes, we know the San Francisco Zoo holds the responsibility in securing the area around the tiger habitat. The zoo director acknowledged the height of the wall around the tiger´s habitat was too low, according to AZA guidelines. The San Francisco Zoo implemented immediate plans to correct the situation as quickly as possible. There also appear to have been staffing issues, which also have reportedly been addressed. This tragedy is every zoo´s nightmare; no one wanted to ever see a confrontation like the mauling and needless deaths that occurred Christmas Day..

Defamation? (This is where the Stradivarius comes in.)

According to the Associated Press, the claim also alleges the city "defamed the brothers by spreading falsehoods about their possible role in provoking the attack…" Defamation? Falsehoods?

Reported by the Associated Press January 18, 2008, Paul Dhaliwal admitted to Carlos Sousa, Jr´s father that the three young men had stood on the rail, waving and shouting at Tatiana. Further criminal investigation revealed drugs and alcohol were factors compounding and probably instigating this tragic sequence of events. At first glance, even that looks like a relatively solid defense in this day and age since the Geragos law firm represents these seemingly hapless youths. It almost looks like the city does not stand a chance against the man who must certainly change for court in a phone booth.

But wait, is that a bird? A plane? No, it´s two rap sheets. The Dhaliwal brothers are no strangers to law enforcement. Linda Goldston from the Mercury News reports Kulbir, aged 23, has already been in trouble for public drunkenness and resisting arrest, complete with misdemeanors pending. The younger brother, Paul, aged 19, is facing charges for battery on a police officer in San Jose from September 2007. Then this week, a few hours after the claims were filed against the city of San Francisco, this same young man was picked up for shoplifting video game controllers from a local Target department store.

Class acts, both of them. No wonder they needed to call the big guns in.

Let´s get the facts straight: the brothers´ criminal activity was ongoing before Tatiana was provoked. Then the young men visited the San Francisco Zoo on Christmas day with too much time on their hands. They downed some shots, smoked some weed and somewhere in their altered state of nonsense, someone suggested they tease the tiger. For those stupid, thoughtless decisions, at least four lives changed forever.

What does all this mean? The city of San Francisco, seen as a deep pocket, will endure a lawsuit based on greed and irresponsibility, from two young men who were already on the path to a greater destiny: the penitentiary. The city of San Francisco may lose this case or be forced to settle, but it should not go down without a fight.

The miscreant behavior these delinquents displayed should never be rewarded and the investigation should be reopened immediately, culminating in charges including public drunkenness, possession, child/public endangerment, animal cruelty and manslaughter. Part of their sentencing should include restitution for Tatiana, securing the acquisition of a replacement tiger. Post incarceration should include not only continuing drug and alcohol treatment, but at least 2000 hours of community service at the zoo. These young men must be made responsible and accountable. Obviously they did not learn that from their parents, so it is up to the taxpayers. If not made to accept their roles in their injuries and the deaths of their friend, Carlos and the tiger, Tatiana, their road is clear: with time they will enjoy three hots and a cot after years of "brushes" with the law, at taxpayers´ expense.

This time Mark Geragos will have to work a little harder for the money. These young men are not quite the victims he would like you to see. He will have to incorporate some prestidigitation in their offensive, but expected, lawsuit. To paraphrase a well-known, well-respected Florida attorney, you can´t make chicken salad out of chicken manure.

I'm calling a spade a spade. Sue me.