Van Nuys Man Claims Woman Stole His Service Dog, Files Lawsuit

VAN NUYS, CA — A man experiencing homelessness says a woman stole his service dog named Boots from a Sherman Oaks store where he works, after falsely promising to bathe the dog and return him. James Michael Nicholos has sued Nicole Lawrence, claiming breach of contract, fraudulent misrepresentation, theft, negligence and both intentional and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

"Boots is my baby and he is my life," Nicholos said in a sworn declaration attached to the suit. "My life has been devoted to Boots for six years. He is well-fed, gets regular veterinary check ups and he is doted on. We have a camp where we live together."

According to the lawsuit, Nicholos works at the START Rescue resale store on Van Nuys Boulevard. Lawrence was one of the store's customers, who told Nicholos on December 31 she was a dog groomer and offered to bathe him and return him, the suit claims.

Lawrence picked up the dog later that afternoon, but never returned him according to the suit. She later called Nicholos to say she lost the dog at a park, but according to the suit, there is no park at the location where she said she last saw the pet.

She later maintains she lost Boots at a different park when two people approached her, prompting her to hide behind a tree and lose her grip on the leash, allowing the dog to run away, the suit states.

Nicholos says the woman stopped answering his messages on January 1. A volunteer group posted fliers in her neighborhood aiming to find Boots, but Lawrence didn't help with the search according to the lawsuit.

On Jan, 3, a neighbor of Lawrence said he saw her walking Boots in their neighborhood New Year's Day, but the man refused to give his name, the suit states. Nicholos says he has been "distraught, crying and unable to sleep, eat, focus or work as he is worried about Boots and is without Boots' calming assistance as his service dog."

Nicholos seeks at least $100,000 in compensatory damages, unspecified punitive damages and that Lawrence be ordered to return Boots to him. Lawrence could not be immediately reached.

City News Service contributed to this report.