In the case of Katherine Sanceri versus Furfriends Animal Rescue, Inc., filed in the Court of Appeal of the State of California, Second Appellate District, Division One (Case ID: B326599) on April 29, 2024, Sanceri appealed a judgment granted to Furfriends by the Superior Court of Los Angeles County. The plaintiff represented herself while there was no appearance for the defendant.
The lawsuit arose from an incident in July 2015 when Sanceri, during a difficult period in her life, sought assistance from Furfriends to care for her dogs. She signed 11 documents known as "surrender forms" without reading them and later unsuccessfully attempted to reclaim her dogs. In July 2018, she filed a lawsuit against Furfriends and one of its principals for conversion, fraud, negligence, undue influence, and cancellation of instruments.
The trial took place on January 5, 2023. After Sanceri presented her evidence and rested her case, Furfriends moved for judgment. The court granted this motion on all causes of action stating that Sanceri had legally surrendered her dogs to Furfriends without any evidence of duress.
Sanceri is seeking an appeal against this judgment arguing that the court failed to preserve plaintiff’s exhibits for appeal. However, it was determined that it was Sanceri's responsibility to provide an adequate record for review and she failed to demonstrate prejudice from any exhibits she claims were lost.