I am sorry Lisa, the firm at which your son works had to make the proper ethical choice, and they did this for you. Pressing on is the only way to get the homeowner liability insurance of new neighbor to respond appropriately and dropping the dog at large charge, though it would be compassionate, would kill the case on the civil side, so this is a pro bono- listen to your advisor son and leave all in place until you have a litigator in place. THEN, they are in charge of recovery for you so as to provide the means to repair any and all damage. Typically such a firm will assess fees in a contingent fee agreement, so do not be surprised if they propose such a means of "sharing" in the recovery. Litigation is very expensive, and their fees are often well earned.

My wife gave me a small statuette which is now in my office [about 6 inches tall] as it exemplifies my demeanor when I represent a client in litigation. The subject is a male/boar grizzly bear roaring with maw wide open. She witnessed that side of me, and it frightened her to death. one afternoon as we were driving a new suburban for us, and a suburban/camper pachage up country to sell to her brother. She drove the new car which the state license people very carefully told us place this inside the glass of the rear window, even providing the tape, because people steal them all too often in this economy.

The state patrol disagreed with his licensing state colleage, and pulled my wife over saying it was not visible enough. Walking back, cane in hand, from the camper rig to my wife shivering on the side of the road with the cruiser lights rolling red and blue, I transformed from meek Mark56 to the Grizzly the closer I got. Cleo said she saw the transformation of my face. I identified myself with attorney registration number and proceded to interrogate the poor trooper. I was bottled rage, disbelieving one agency would countermand another. I must have called him sir 50 times as I dressed him down in managed rage, daring him to arrest me. He found tears at the corner of his eye. I softened the approach, asked if he would be happier if we put the tag in a clear plastice sleeve duct taped to the window. He appreciated the offer of compliance. I apologized for being so enraged, and told him I recognized he was just doing a difficult job for which I thanked him. He was appreciative.

THEN I received a tongue lashing from Cleo re you were going to get us arrested. I confirmed I was calculatingly trying to do just that for tactical and strategic reasons she could not understand. She said Ifrightened her, and I said, she had never ever witnessed me represent a client before. Now the grizzly is out in the open. She was glad not to have to oppose me in court. Most people are happy to settle when I have the case worked out, because, my strategies have never lost. Not boasting, just fact.

Stay the course with the advice of son's firm to find litigation counsel. Be careful not to speak further with neighbor until you are in the care and under the counsel of your attorney, then please consider well the advice they give.

I am just thinking protectively of you, my friend,
Griz,
Parying Griz,
Mark56

I know, Rae will probably come up with a picture appropos to the situation. I cringe a little. Bashful.