A woman accused of having Lady Gaga’s French bulldog stolen after it was held at gunpoint is now suing the star, claiming she was denied a $500,000 reward for “asking questions unconditionally,” according to court documents.
Jennifer McBride is one of five co-defendants accused of stealing prized pets Koji and Gustav and turning them over to police.
Lady GagaIn February 2021, while the star was out of the country, dog walker Ryan Fischer was shot and wounded in a dog tie-up incident in Los Angeles.
Lady Gaga’s dogs Koji and Gustav. Image: @ladygaga/Instagram
James Howard Jackson, one of three men and two accomplices allegedly involved in a violent robbery, pleaded guilty to one count of attempted murder in December 2022 and was arrested in December 2022, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said. Sentenced to 21 years in prison.
Also in December, McBride did not contest receipt of stolen property in connection with the burglary. Now, according to court documents, she is accusing Lady Gaga (real name Stefani Germanotta) of breach of contract, false promise fraud and false statement fraud for failing to pay her a $500,000 (£413,800) bonus.
In addition to the bonus, McBride filed an eight-page complaint in Los Angeles County Superior Court seeking damages of no less than $1.5 million (£1.25 million), as well as unspecified general damages.
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McBride claimed she was entitled to the bounty money after she delivered the dogs to the LAPD two days after they were taken. The lawsuit says Lady Gaga never intended to pay the “no questions asked” bonus — instead, she was questioned by police about the pit bull’s return.
According to the lawsuit, McBride suffered pain and suffering, mental anguish and loss of enjoyment of life as a result.
Without incentives, ‘dogs will likely end up in farms’
Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Michele Hanisee said: “If Lady Gaga suffered financial loss as a result of paying this bounty, she would qualify as a victim of a crime under California law, which obligates people to seek compensation in court for this case. losses for each of the defendants.”
Ms Hanisee said that if the star hadn’t come forward and publicly acknowledged the dogs as hers and offered a reward, “these dogs would likely end up in the breeder”.
“McBride remains on formal probation” and “is still under the jurisdiction of the court,” she noted.
Sky News has contacted Lady Gaga’s representatives for comment.