Blogs > Liberty and Power > Thomas Szasz is Shrugging

Feb 23, 2005

Thomas Szasz is Shrugging




"A federal grand jury awarded more than $300,000 to a mentally ill woman whose apartment complex refused to let her have a dog.

The verdict in favor of Joyce Grad, who suffers from severe bipolar disorder, acknowledges the role of pets in improving the quality of life for the mentally ill."

Read the rest here.



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M.D. Fulwiler - 2/24/2005

Max, I actually agree that pets can be a great benefit for people who are depressed. But this lawsuit is indeed ridiculous.


Max Swing - 2/24/2005

I can understand why a blind or a deaf person would need a dog, but an emotional pet for mental illnesses, that's beyond the line. If she has a mental illness, she can go to a doctor or even the respective hospital, when the illness is severely affecting her ability to live.

If you read the whole account thouroughly, you see that she starts sueing the board, when she actually has moved to a new apartment. I can't think of any law that should allow such a stupid move, or any court that could grant this appeal...


M.D. Fulwiler - 2/23/2005

Getting a diagnosis of depression is pretty easy, so I imagine this means the de facto end of a private property owner's right to exclude pets from his property.


Sheldon Richman - 2/23/2005

Oy vey!