A man whose dog destroyed a neighbour's drone has told how he ended up winning compensation in court after being sued.
Background to the dispute
The homeowner said his neighbour repeatedly flew a drone low over his back garden, deliberately teasing his dog despite being asked to stop. The neighbour claimed he had the right to fly over the garden because he 'didn't own the air' above the property.
Eventually, the dog leapt up, caught the drone and destroyed it. The neighbour demanded $900 (£675) for the drone, but the homeowner refused to pay.
Legal action and counterclaim
The neighbour called the police and later filed a claim in small claims court. The homeowner, after consulting a lawyer through his mother-in-law, filed a counterclaim. He also contacted the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) after learning the neighbour had allegedly been flying drones near an airport, out of sight and potentially in breach of regulations.
In court, the homeowner presented police reports, photographs, videos of previous low fly-bys, and veterinary bills. The neighbour argued that the homeowner had 'maliciously' installed a picnic table so his dog could jump high enough to catch the drone, but the homeowner said the table was simply for sitting and eating outside.
Outcome
The judge accepted that repeatedly flying the drone close to the dog had caused distress and could have led to serious injuries if the dog had swallowed parts of it. The neighbour was ordered to pay the homeowner just under $2,000 (£1,500) for veterinary treatment, including X-rays, dental examinations, sedation and medication. The judge also banned the neighbour from flying drones over the man's property.
The homeowner has since installed trail cameras around his home. He said: 'The only thing that could make this better is if the FAA finds a reason to fine him or take away his drones.'
