Not long after Fester, a brain-damaged miniature pinscher, was hit by a car and killed in Minnesota, a lawsuit was filed.

By the driver.

Jeffery Ely is asking for $1,100 in damages, which includes the cost of repairs to his 1997 Honda Civic, the time he had to take off from work to get his car fixed and court fees. Pieces of his bumper were propelled into the radiator when he struck the 13-pound dog, Ely said, necessitating a replacement.

According to a story by the Duluth News Tribune, the case will be heard in St. Louis County Court tomorrow.

Fester's owner, Nikki Munthe, said Fester squeezed out the door of her home near Cloquet in January and ran into the street, where he was struck by Ely’s car and killed instantly.

Fester, she said, had suffered seizures as a reaction to vaccines as a pup, causing brain damage. The family named him Fester after the character from the Addams Family because “he really was not that bright,” she said.

Ely said he feels sorry for the family’s loss but feels they should be held responsible for their pets’ actions. He spent more than $600 putting a fence in his backyard to keep his own dogs contained. “I have complete compassion for them,” Ely said. “I know how it feels. I love dogs. But once you get them, they are your responsibility.”

The Munthes have filed a countersuit.