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Lawyer: Tiger Area Couldn't Hold a Tabby

Mauled brothers' rep has claws out for San Francisco Zoo

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 8, 2008 10:20 AM CST

(Newser) – The lawyer for two brothers mauled in the Christmas Day tiger attack at the San Francisco Zoo has gone on the attack, the Chronicle reports. Mark Geragos yesterday slammed the zoo's "character assassination" of the brothers, claiming an employee warned the zoo that the moat around the tiger grotto "couldn't hold a house cat."

Geragos said the zoo was financially liable for the attack, which left Paul and Kulbir Dhaliwal hospitalized and killed their friend. He denied that the brothers have been stonewalling police and city lawyers attempting to investigate the incident. The zoo rejected his assertion that it had admitted the tiger enclosure was insecure but hadn't acted for lack of funds.

A San Francisco Zoo employee touches a memorial to Tatiana the tiger as he walks past it on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2008, in San Francisco. The 350-pound Siberian tiger was killed after it escaped from its... (Associated Press)

San Francisco Zoo Director Manuel Mollinedo, at podium, and Zoological Society Board of Directors Chairman Nick Podell, right, answer questions from the media beside a diagram illustrating improvements... (Associated Press)

Workers at the San Francisco Zoo fortify a lion enclosure on Thursday, Jan. 3, 2008, in San Francisco. On Christmas Day, a 350-pound Siberian tiger escaped from a similar grotto located nearby killing... (Associated Press)

This undated file photo provided by the San Francisco Zoo shows Tatiana, a female Siberian tiger that escaped its enclosure and killed one man and injured two others on Dec. 25, 2007 in San Francisco.... (Associated Press)

Defense attorney Mark Geragos enters federal court in San Diego in this file photo. Geragos is representing two brother who were mauled in a tiger attack at San Francisco Zoo, and he has gone on the offensive... (Associated Press)

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Lawyer: Tiger Area Couldn't Hold a Tabby

Mauled brothers' rep has claws out for San Francisco Zoo

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Tiger Survivors' Lawyer Ready to Pounce

Hotshot attorney Mark Geragos slams 'deficient' SF Zoo

SF Asks Tiger Victim to Reimburse City

City aims to recover costs of medical care from any settlement from victim's lawsuit

Tiger Kills Lion in Zoo

Big cat dispatched with single swipe of paw

Big Cats Are Back at SF Zoo

Lions, tigers return to outdoor grottoes after fatal Christmas attack

SF Tiger Attack Survivors Made Silence Pact

Brothers vowed in ambulance not to talk to police, report says

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