Local Vandalism...what do you think?

terrier3 · ‎03-10-2010

A local city of Buffalo family took their college freshman daughter to Costa Rica for a vacation, leaving the care of their 7 cats to their daughter's HS senior friend.

The cat sitter invited some friends over to the house...then left to babysit somewhere else. The remaining two girls used social media to start a party - almost 50 kids showed up and trashed the place. The kids came from City Honors HS and private schools - presumably well off kids from "good families."

The kids bragged on FB, Twitter, etc. about the trashing, even posting video of what they did in the daughter's room.

The dad (a lawyer) now wants the cat sitter's family to pay for the $8500 Costa Rica trip, plus damages, plus $6,000 cash he said was also stolen. He also wants the kids names to be made public and the kids prosecuted for the vandalism.

Opinions are all over the place - what say you?

Link to original story: http://www.buffalonews.com/feed/house-of-horrors-greets-family-after-dream-vacation-20140123

LilacTree · ‎03-25-2012

I don't know about paying for the trip, but they certainly should pay for the damages to the house and at least get sentences of community service. This is happening more and more and needs to be punished.

Formerly Ford1224
We must always take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Elie Wiesel 1986

Yuban3 · ‎03-10-2010

Kids should pay for the damages most certainly. But dad got the benefit of the trip. He should not get a free trip.

Was Yuban, then changed to Plaid Pants due to forum upgrade, and apparently, I'm back to being Yuban.

terrier3 · ‎03-10-2010

On 1/25/2014 Yuban3 said:
Kids should pay for the damages most certainly. But dad got the benefit of the trip. He should not get a free trip.

I agree he is over the top looking for reimbursement on the trip! He is a PI attorney - suing is his life!

Some of the posts on this story are scary...implying that they deserved this..the dad is a jerk...no one living in the city could afford to keep $6,000 cash in the house...etc.

I couldn't believe how many people are standing up for the kids involved....so what if the cat sitter is supposed to be going to Yale next year!

Qwackertoo · ‎03-11-2010

Damages but NOT the trip. UNLESS they saw the videos or pictures and ended their trip early to come home because of this. That would be the exception to including the trip in the damages.

terrier3 · ‎03-10-2010

The kids were all juniors and seniors in high school - the best private schools and City Honors - the public school you need to apply to go to (and have great grades).

They seem to be getting off scot free - no arrests, no names in the paper, nothing.

JustJules · ‎06-25-2013

Isn't this similar to the case of the football player that had a bunch of rich kids break in and party and vandalize his home? I think these "city honors" and "private school" kids should be publicly shamed and they should be responsible to pay for damages, and if they cannot pay, then their parents should pay. I don't think the violated family needs to be compensated for the cost of their trip, that is not a relevant expense, but the damages done to their home in trust of a house sitter should be.

terrier3 · ‎03-10-2010

On 1/25/2014 Jules5280 said:
Isn't this similar to the case of the football player that had a bunch of rich kids break in and party and vandalize his home? I think these "city honors" and "private school" kids should be publicly shamed and they should be responsible to pay for damages, and if they cannot pay, then their parents should pay. I don't think the violated family needs to be compensated for the cost of their trip, that is not a relevant expense, but the damages done to their home in trust of a house sitter should be.

Today's story said that the cat sitter's family is putting the damages through on THEIR homeowners policy. They have also hired a lawyer.

No mention of the kids who did the trashing whatsoever...

GCR18 · ‎07-03-2013

Since the trip wasn't interrupted, I don't see that it has anything to do with it. They definitely should seek reimbursement for all damages and theft.

terrier3 · ‎03-10-2010

On 1/25/2014 graycatsrule said:
Since the trip wasn't interrupted, I don't see that it has anything to do with it. They definitely should seek reimbursement for all damages and theft.

Should the kids be up on vandalism charges too? Through the courts?