Animal Law

Cognitively Impaired Human, Intelligent Animals, and Legal Personhood

Written by: Richard L. Cupp

Abstract This Article analyzes whether courts should grant legal personhood to intelligent animal species, such as chimpanzees, with a particular focus on comparisons made to cognitively impaired humans whom the law recognizes as legal persons even though they may have less practical autonomy than intelligent animals. Granting legal personhood would allow human representatives to initiate […]

Frances H. Foster, Should Pets Inherit?

63 Fla. L. Rev. 801 (2011)|  | | ARTICLE :: On August 20, 2007, billionaire hotelier Leona Helmsley died, survived by her brother, four grandchildren, twelve great-grandchildren, and her beloved companion of eight years, a white Maltese dog named Trouble. One week later came news that shocked the world. Helmsley left $12 million to Trouble.