2 citizens to be paid damages for their cat that got missing in cargo

* Photo: AA

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Living in Turkey's southeastern province of Antep, a citizen wanted to send her cat to his daughter studying in a university in İzmir.

The father contracted a courier company so that the cat could be delivered to his daughter by air, as she wanted to have her cat with her.

He gave the cat to the company; but, he was then informed that the cat, which was to be shipped by Turkish Airlines (THY), got missing in the cargo.

In response to this, the father said that they incurred material and immaterial damages as a result and filed a suit for damages against the THY.

'The client is not at fault'

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), at the hearing held by the Gaziantep 2nd Consumer Court, the plaintiff demanded 1,600 lira (~200 USD) in pecuniary and 10,000 lira (~1,300 USD) in non-pecuniary damages for himself and 5,000 lira in non-pecuniary damages for his wife.

In his defense, the attorney of the defendant said that it was requested to deliver the cat in cargo and his client was not at fault. Indicating that the amount of damages requested by the plaintiff was extreme and disproportional, the attorney demanded the rejection of the lawsuit.

Handing down its ruling in 2019, the local court ruled that the plaintiff should be paid 200 lira in pecuniary and 3,000 lira in non-pecuniary damages and his wife, the other plaintiff of the case, should be paid 1,500 in non-pecuniary damages for their cat that got missing in the cargo.

Examining the appeal of the defendant, the 11th Legal Chamber of the Court of Cassation has upheld the verdict of the Gaziantep 2nd Consumer Court. (EMK/SD)