Michigan Woman Sues Her Own Sister After Cat Bite Caused Infection and Expensive Medical Bills

A Michigan woman is suing her sister after her cat bit her and left her with a major infection and thousands of dollars in medical bills.

The incident at the center of the lawsuit happened on December 26th. Terra Simpson, 48, was visiting her sister Samantha Scherer, 50, of Alabama, Michigan. For no reason, Scherer’s cat, named Zoey, bit her on the right wrist and left her with multiple injuries.

Simpson’s arm swelled to three times its normal size. She suffered a severe reaction to the attack that required medical treatment on her right hand and arm, including surgical intervention, medications and physical therapy, according to the lawsuit.

Simpson says she had an allergy to cats, which her sister knew about. She also said her sister also knew the cat had a history of aggression and was not up to date on its vaccinations, according to a federal court filing last month.

Simpson argues that her sister had a duty to act with reasonable care in protecting her cat’s visitors to her home and providing basic veterinary care to the animal.

She is seeking up to $300,000 in damages related to her medical injuries and mental anguish.

One person who visited Scherer’s home, Amber Chaney, claimed she was bitten by the cat when he was unprovoked and drew blood. Another visitor, David Mettert, said the same thing happened to him about three years ago, according to the lawsuit filed in Michigan federal court.

Simpson left her home in Michigan and had to stop at urgent care on the way back to Alabama, according to the lawsuit. She was treated at a clinic in Kentucky, where authorities noticed her injuries. Upon arriving in Alabama, she went to an emergency room where she remained for eight days.

The woman’s breathing became labored and after failing to progress with intravenous antibiotics, she underwent surgery on Dec. 30 to incise and drain an abscess on her right hand and forearm, the documents state.

The woman continued to attend physiotherapy appointments. It remains unclear whether she will ever be able to fully recover.

Zoey died of old age in March, according to Detroit news. Scherer learned about the lawsuit from the newspaper and said she was not surprised by the lawsuit, given her sister’s current medical condition.

“I’m not saying people should just go around suing other people, but it’s obvious with everything she’s been through,” she said.