Here a few misconceptions to be cleared up. A private civil suit can almost never make you homeless or deny you your ability to meet you basic living expenses. I have about $10,000 in judgements against me from failed businesses and recession problems, and I have paid nothing. Only the gov't, your landlord, and maybe your mortgage holder can sue you are take everything you own. Judgements go after liquid and real assests, but they generally can not deprive you of your home if its value is average, nor your car if you use to to go to work. A judgement can go after money gained from selling a car or home, and it can go after cash and securities (stocks, etc.). Feduciary relationship generally only apply where these is some sort of contract or expectation. You expect your banker to protect your money, you expect CPA's to report financial fraud, they have a feduciary duty to protect the best interests of society. This whole thing is going to look bad for the gov't and the suit crazed women. The public is generally hostile towards frivilous lawsuits, and wasting tax dollars on expensive prosecutions of petty crimes in areas that have real crime problems. This could drive Mr. Wright and FA into Chapter 11 or Chapter 7 bankruptcy, he might get fined, a year of probation, or have to sign a consent decree giving up his constitutional rights in San Diego, but it will tend to motivate in state ferret owners, and will generate plenty of bad PR and ill-will for California and San Diego where tourism is a major industry). My idea is that ferret owners should write to Gov. Wilson, California Chamber of Commerce, and San Diego CC saying how they are cancalling vacation plans in S.D. and CA. because of this. San Diego especially is very image conscious city that is basically run by the business community. Brad [Posted in FML issue 1720]