Lawsuit against Baton Rouge zoo after exotic pigeon bit a child dismissed by judge

A lawsuit filed against the Baton Rouge Zoo by the parents of a two-year-old girl bitten by a Victoria crowned pigeon in 2022 was dismissed by Judge Will Jorden. The parents alleged gross negligence on the part of zoo officials led to the attack, resulting in significant medical expenses. However, the judge ruled in favor of BREC (the parks system), citing Louisiana state law – known as the “first bite rule” – which requires proof that the animal owner had prior knowledge of the animal’s aggressive tendencies.

The plaintiff’s attorney argued that the zoo’s bird curator, Lee Shoen, was aware of the species’ potential for aggression, referencing an incident where a pigeon had “snipped” at him. BREC’s attorneys countered that there were no documented instances of the pigeons attacking humans, and zoo records showed only minor incidents of chasing or pecking at other birds.

Judge Jorden ultimately agreed with BREC, stating that the plaintiffs failed to demonstrate that the zoo knew or should have known the specific pigeon was dangerous. While expressing sympathy for the child’s injuries, the judge concluded that the law did not support the family’s claim, emphasizing the need for concrete evidence of prior aggressive behavior.

(Source：The Advocate)