The dutiful Hertz rounded up the two strays and, apparently thinking the schnauzer was part of the pack, demanded that Clark turn her dog over. Our guess is that Clark responded with, "Over my dead body!" or words to that effect.
Clark took her dog, went inside, locked the door, and called a friend (Angela Stevens, who is disabled) and asked her to come over. Undeterred, Hertz summoned the assistance of two sheriff's deputies. When Clark opened the door to let Stevens in, the deputies burst through, a physical altercation ensued, and at least one stun gun went off.
How could law-enforcement officials be found not liable for such over-the-top behavior? For one, I've learned to never be dazed and confused by any decision that an Alabama jury might render. Two, the plaintiffs were represented by Jeff Bennitt, whose office is about four miles from my house in Shelby County.
I generally expect nothing but the worst from Shelby County lawyers. But a check of court records told me that Bennitt had handled a large number of employment and civil-rights cases--so I decided to give him a call. What followed sounded like a comedy sketch of a lawyer intentionally trying to run off potential business. Bennitt's crudeness was so off the charts, even for a lawyer, that I kept the conversation going longer than necessary--just to see what was coming next. I didn't know whether to be entertained or repulsed by the guy.
At first, I thought he was just pulling my leg, and he eventually would make some effort to sound professional. But he never did. Of all the wretched human beings I've encountered in my legal sojourn, Jeff Bennitt has to rank as the single biggest jackass of them all--and he beats out some serious competition for that honor.
I've spoken to at least one other person who encountered Bennitt, and she said her experience was much like mine.
Do the "schnauzer women" in Semmes, Alabama, have a chance for justice on appeal, perhaps with a different lawyer? I sure hope so.
This story has a wacky, Keystone Kops quality to it. But beneath that lies a serious case of official abuse. In the name of the schnauzer--one of God's finest creations--we don't want to see the SOBs get away with it.
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