Lady Gaga is attempting to dismiss a lawsuit calling for her to pay the $500,000 reward for the return of her French bulldogs, claiming that the woman knew they had been stolen.
The Bad Romance singer’s two dogs were taken during a late-night attack in 2021 with her dog walker Ryan Fischer suffering serious injuries after being shot and left for dead.
Jennifer McBride handed over the pop star’s pets on the same day that Gaga tweeted that she would pay $500,000 (£418,000) for their safe return.
In February, McBride sued Gaga after not receiving the cash reward when she returned the animals, alleging the artist made it ‘very clear’ there would be ‘no questions asked.’
However, in new documents obtained by CBS News, the world-famous star is fighting back.
‘Plaintiff Jennifer McBride seeks to profit from her participation in a crime,’ Gaga’s attorney states in court papers.
‘The law does not allow a person to commit a crime and then profit from it.’
Gaga’s lawyers said McBride claimed to have found the dogs on the street by chance and had ‘no idea’ they belonged to the actress.
However, they are arguing she was a ‘direct and knowing participant in the criminal enterprise’.
In December, McBride was sentenced to two years of probation after pleading no contest to knowingly receiving stolen property.
She has maintained she exercised her duty under the terms of the reward contract but Gaga had no intention of paying it.
McBride is suing for breach of contract, fraud by false promise, and fraud by misrepresentation.
She is also seeking legal fees and compensation for financial damages, pain, suffering, mental anguish, as well as loss of enjoyment of life, but Gaga’s lawyers argued she has not suffered any damages in returning the dogs.
A hearing on the motion to dismiss has been scheduled for 10 July.
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