Delaware Code Title 6 Sec. 4008 – Contested cases
(a) In the event that a seller disputes a purchaser‘s entitlement to a remedy under this chapter, the seller may, except in the case of the animal’s death, have the dog examined by a licensed veterinarian designated by the seller. The cost of such examination shall be borne by the seller.
Terms Used In Delaware Code Title 6 Sec. 4008
- Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
- Entitlement: A Federal program or provision of law that requires payments to any person or unit of government that meets the eligibility criteria established by law. Entitlements constitute a binding obligation on the part of the Federal Government, and eligible recipients have legal recourse if the obligation is not fulfilled. Social Security and veterans' compensation and pensions are examples of entitlement programs.
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Purchaser: means any person purchasing a dog from a seller, as defined by this section. See Delaware Code Title 6 Sec. 4001
- Seller: means any person, business or other entity engaging in the sale of dogs, except that this definition does not encompass the sale of dogs on the premises of and by a public shelter, pound or other entity operating as a nonprofit organization pursuant to Delaware law. See Delaware Code Title 6 Sec. 4001
(b) If, following examination of the animal by the seller’s chosen veterinarian, the purchaser and the seller are unable to reach an agreement within 10 business days, the purchaser may initiate an action in a court of competent jurisdiction to resolve the dispute, or the parties may submit to binding arbitration if mutually agreed upon by the parties in writing. Any court having jurisdiction in a damages or trespass action for the amount in controversy shall have jurisdiction under this chapter.
(c) The purchaser in any such legal action shall have the right to collect reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs if the opposing party acted in bad faith in seeking or denying the requested remedy.