A Lubbock business, Walter’s World of Pets, sued Delta Airlines on Tuesday amid allegations that the airline failed to safely transport 10 Sun Gazer Lizards from Johannesburg, South Africa to Lubbock.
In May of 2014, the lizards had connecting flights through Miami and Atlanta according to the lawsuit. During the Atlanta stop, a dog was found dead.
The lawsuit said, “Upon information and belief, as a result, all other animals were detained by Delta, pending the determination of the cause of death.”
The lawsuit indicated that animals from the flight were held in quarantine at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta. Then, Delta later told the Lubbock business that the lizards were dead.
The lawsuit said, “all animals on the Delta flight were dead.”
The lawsuit said Delta committed negligence by failing to safely transport the lizards, failing to avoid unnecessary delays, and disposing of the lizards without permission from the Lubbock business.
The lawsuit seeks damages of $50,000 or less. Walter’s World of Pets did not yet return a call for comment. Delta has not yet responded to an invitation for comment and Delta has not yet filed its side of the story in court records.
This story will be updated if either side chooses to make a statement.
