Curious Cases: the custody battle

The two women entered the Florida courthouse to fight a bitter custody battle.

The thirteen year-old in question had fled the Plaintiff’s house aged ten, and was taken in by the Defendent, cared for and loved.

However, the “child” Angela Colicheski was trying to reclaim was, in fact, an African Grey Parrot she found after striking up a conversation with Sarita Lytell in a Dunkin Donuts.

Lytell’s counsel argued that, as she had cared for Lucky, as she had called him, for three years, then it had become hers.

Colicheski’s counsel disagreed. According to them, Tequila, his original name, was a chattel – a piece of legal property – and must be returned.

Drawing on the analogy of a missing car being found and not returned, the judge agreed. ‘If the plaintiff had lost her automobile somehow along the way,’ he said, ‘would it be any less her property when she found it?’

The judge thus ruled that, as the original owner and carer for ten years, Colicheski must have Tequila returned.