A former couple is locked in a transnational dispute over a small dog whose breed is named after their European city of origin, court papers filed in Los Angeles show.
Paul Wallace of Toronto is suing his former girlfriend, Alexandra Wells of Los Angeles, concerning “Berryhill Thinkingmans Crumpet,” the name given the smooth-coated Brussels Griffon he bought in July 2011 for $1,237 from a well-known Canadian breeder, according to his lawsuit.
He says Wells paid him $650 for her interest in the pet. The Brussels Griffon breed, also known as Griffon Bruxellois, is a stock of toy dog named for Brussels, Belgium.
The Los Angeles Superior Court suit filed Monday alleges conversion, deceit and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Wallace is alleging about $300,000 in damages and wants a court declaration that Wells must return Crumpet to him.
A representative for Wells could not be immediately reached.
According to the complaint, Wallace and Wells dated from August 2008 until May 2013 and lived together in Toronto. In April 2012, Wells said she was temporarily moving to Los Angeles for five months, then would return, while Crumpet remained in Toronto with Wallace, the suit says.
But Wells did not return, and in May 2013 said told Wallace would remain in Los Angeles, but missed Crumpet and asked that she be allowed to have the pet for awhile in the Southland, according to his suit.
“I am not saying that I will take her forever, but I would like her to come to L.A. for a few months,” Wells stated in an email to Wallace, according to the lawsuit. “I love her and miss her. I can’t live without her either. I’m sorry, I’m sure you can understand.”
Wallace says he declined the request.
“When you left Toronto, you not only left me, you left her, too,” Wallace stated in his reply to Wallace, according to his court papers.”Her home is here in Toronto, with me.”
Both sides eventually came to an agreement regarding the dog and Wallace reimbursed Wells $1,000 for her initial payment for the pet. as well as for her agreement to relinquish ownership, the suit states.
However, while Wallace was traveling in late 2013, he says Wells asked him if Crumpet could spend time with her for the two months he would be away from home. The parties agreed the dog could stay with Wells until February 2014, then be returned to Wallace in Toronto, the suit says.
“At the end of February 2014, Wells failed and refused to return Crumpet to Toronto,” according to the lawsuit. “Although initially vague about her intentions, on April 5, 2014, Wells admitted to Wallace that she was never going to return Crumpet to Toronto.”
The suit alleges Wells, with the help of others whose names have yet to be discovered by Wallace, conspired to “misappropriate and convert Crumpet to their own personal benefit” without his consent.
— Wire Reports