The woman had been linked to the crime, inviting the citation of the unclean hands doctrine
A judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court has denied a US$500,000 payout to a woman who returned French bulldogs stolen from Lady Gaga, the American Bar Association Journal reported.
The singer/actress had promised the US$500,000 reward for her dogs’ safe return without question, according to the suit filed by Jennifer McBride. However, Judge Hollie J. Fujie shot down McBride’s claim, citing the unclean hands doctrine that serves as “an equitable rationale for refusing a plaintiff relief where principles of fairness dictate that the plaintiff should not recover, regardless of the merits of their claim”.
Lady Gaga’s dogs were stolen in February 2021 in an incident where Ryan Fischer, the star’s dog walker, was shot and wounded. McBride surrendered the dogs at a police station and was arrested; she was put on probation after pleading no contest to the knowing receipt of stolen property.
“The unclean hands doctrine demands that a plaintiff act fairly in the matter for which he seeks a remedy”, Fujie wrote in an opinion released on 10 July. The judge pointed out that under this doctrine, McBride could not demand that Lady Gaga pay the money promised given that it would be a reward for McBride’s part in the crime.
Moreover, Fujie indicated that under the law banning receipt of stolen property, Lady Gaga could bring forward a civil suit for damages; if the star filed such a suit against McBride and won, it would end up negating any potential damages awarded to McBride.
The judge granted McBride 20 days to amend her suit.
An alleged shooter was also arrested along with three individuals linked to the theft. The shooter entered a plea of no contest to attempted murder.
