Opinions please.

[Speedfab]

I need some perspective here on how pissed off I should be.

Scenario:  A few of you know I occasionally play with R/C planes and helicopters.  In fact, I'm pretty sure Blake is responsible for reopening that can of worms and causing me to waste what little spare time I have now.  Anyhow, I have a couple of these little micro aerobatic planes and take them out in a nearby park and fly them from time to time.  I was doing this yesterday morning when an older woman walks out in the park with a couple dogs, one on a leash and one loose.  Normally this is fine, but loose dog starts chasing the plane around right when it was out of battery.  It was too windy to fly it to myself and catch it, so I pretty much HAD to land it in the grass as close to me as possible.  Sure enough, little shithead dog beats me to it and pretty much destroys it.  These things have molded foam airframes and are sort of fragile.  This is the airplane:  http://www.horizonhobby.com/products/EFLU4850
The pictures are deceptive, it's tiny - the wingspan is just over a foot.  It costs 130 bucks at my local hobby shop.  I confront the woman, she says "well it's a public park" and similar crap, and pretty much refuses to compensate me in any way.  Bottom line is this - Duval county has a leash law, and all dogs in a public area must be leashed, period.  There are even signs to that effect in the park.  My dog was with me, in fact, and sitting next to my truck ON A DAMN LEASH.  I didn't really want to snatch up her dog and haul it to animal control, so I'm not sure quite what to do about this.

What would YOU do?  I'm really interested in others' opinions.  Be realistic.

[theantirotor]

Get tough with the lady and get at least partial compensation for the plane her dog destroyed.  Scare her into owning up to it.


I am a dog lover though so although I may threaten to get nasty with the leash thing I would never actually make a big issue of it and get someones dog taken away.  I am a softy like that.

[cyipher]

I need some perspective here on how pissed off I should be.

Scenario:  A few of you know I occasionally play with R/C planes and helicopters.  In fact, I'm pretty sure Blake is responsible for reopening that can of worms and causing me to waste what little spare time I have now.  Anyhow, I have a couple of these little micro aerobatic planes and take them out in a nearby park and fly them from time to time.  I was doing this yesterday morning when an older woman walks out in the park with a couple dogs, one on a leash and one loose.  Normally this is fine, but loose dog starts chasing the plane around right when it was out of battery.  It was too windy to fly it to myself and catch it, so I pretty much HAD to land it in the grass as close to me as possible.  Sure enough, little shithead dog beats me to it and pretty much destroys it.  These things have molded foam airframes and are sort of fragile.  This is the airplane:  http://www.horizonhobby.com/products/EFLU4850
The pictures are deceptive, it's tiny - the wingspan is just over a foot.  It costs 130 bucks at my local hobby shop.  I confront the woman, she says "well it's a public park" and similar crap, and pretty much refuses to compensate me in any way.  Bottom line is this - Duval county has a leash law, and all dogs in a public area must be leashed, period.  There are even signs to that effect in the park.  My dog was with me, in fact, and sitting next to my truck ON A DAMN LEASH.  I didn't really want to snatch up her dog and haul it to animal control, so I'm not sure quite what to do about this.

What would YOU do?  I'm really interested in others' opinions.  Be realistic.

Boot  her dog, say it was self defence and you saw how it attacked you plane. Serious, I have anger issues and  thats the first thing i would have done. now that weve lrearned that you have more self control then I. Take her to small claims court I'm guessing is your best course of action.

[spacevomit]

Have the lady put down. 

Actually small claims court is the right answer.

[RXTC]

Write it off, she's probably on SSI and doesn't have the money.

You can buy another plane.

Next time she's in the park, do some bombing runs on her. 

[theantirotor]

Time is money and (IMO) 140 or whatever bucks isnt worth court time to me.

[wickedrx7]

I would be pissed as hell.  I live IN Chicago and can't stand when people don't leash their dogs.  Mainly cause they run up to my dogs and my one dog does not like when other dogs come up to her and she will get pretty nervous and snippy which can cause a dog fight.  I hate when people say "oh he is fine, friendly or whatever"  I have to say, well she isn't.  There are leash laws for a reason.

I would have said to the lady, there are leash laws for a reason, if you dog is so "good" off leash, you should have been able to control him to not attack my plane. 

Did you threaten the cops? Did you get her info?  Not sure it is worth the trouble but you would win in smalls claims court and I am sure that is the only way you would get anything from her. 

[wickedrx7]

Actually, steal her dog!

[digitalsolo]

I'm a big fan of principles, and I'd say on principle she owes some type of reparations.   Whether it is worth your time to bother with her would be your call though.

[RXTC]

Winning in small claims does not guarantee you money.

Is 10 to 20 hours of your time worth $130?

[wickedrx7]

I'm a big fan of principles, and I'd say on principle she owes some type of reparations.   Whether it is worth your time to bother with her would be your call though.

Someone always has to play the race card.....

[RXTC]

I'm a big fan of principles, and I'd say on principle she owes some type of reparations.   Whether it is worth your time to bother with her would be your call though.

Someone always has to play the race card.....

[BeasTT]

All depends on if you know who she is. Can you have her served with the small claims court papers which might scare her into settling out of court? Or are you just looking at confronting her if you were to see her again by chance?

I've personally had success with the small claims scare tactic when an ex tried to keep from giving me money I was owed when I bought that bitch a smartphone. Bitches love smart phones.

[Bigblockquad]

Not educated on Florida law but.....

Did you get any pics of her dog off the leash or destroying your plane?  Did anyone else that can back your claim?  If not probably not worth going after.  Assuming Florida law recognizes dogs a real property, if her property damages yours my may be able to file a claim against her home owners insurance.

Again, not sure about Florida law but you have options....

[Speedfab]

Time is money and (IMO) 140 or whatever bucks isnt worth court time to me.

This is pretty much the issue.  I can tune one car in a few hours and make that 3 times over.  This is absolutely NOT worth dealing with small claims.  Hell, she is probably on SSI and doesn't have any money to begin with, which would render a small claims judgement worthless.  I think the really irritating part here is the fact she won't own up to her negligence and at least offer to do SOMEthing about it.