By Robert Chapski 

Not to be callous about the subject, but, people, please...leave the chimps, tigers, and other wild animals where they belong.   The family of the woman who was recently attacked by a friend's chimpanzee has filed a $50 million lawsuit against the chimp's owner, not surprisingly claiming that the owner was negligent and reckless.  Esquire magazine also recently published a fascinating account of another chimp attack that occurred a few years back at a private animal sanctuary that left its victim severely scarred and mangled.   Sadly, the chimp owner in that story was attacked by other jealous chimps (who escaped their confines) while the owner was giving his chimp birthday cake.  The victim elected not to sue the sanctuary because it did not have any liability insurance.  Of note, that owner's chimp never attacked anyone, but the article does mention an incident involving a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.  Let's just say, if you do own a chimp, make sure you keep tabs on your peanut butter supply.  

It seems somewhat obvious to me that having a 150 pound animal with five times the upper body strength of a person roaming around the house and neighborhood might be a bad idea but apparently it's not.  For young, entrepreneurial lawyers looking for a new niche, why not consider "wild animal liability"?