A woman who was involved in the 2021 theft of Lady Gaga's dogs has had her lawsuit—in which she said she was entitled to $500,000 in reward money—dismissed by a judge.
As reported by TMZ, Jennifer McBride filed a lawsuit against Gaga earlier this year after she did not receive the promised $500,000 reward for the return of the the singer's two French Bulldogs. She was then charged in connection with the theft of Koji and Gustav, who were stolen from Gaga's dog walker at gunpoint. The case was dead on arrival because the judge pointed out that McBride pleaded no contest to knowingly receiving the stolen dogs.
In the ruling, the judge said that if McBride was able to pursue the lawsuit, it would "allow her to benefit from her admitted wrongdoing." McBride has 20 days to amend the complaint, but it's not exactly going to be an easy task considering she was convicted in connection with the crime.
Gaga's dog walker Ryan Fischer sustained a gunshot injury and was hospitalized during the theft, eventually making a full recovery. Fischer opened up about the experience, which he described as "a very close call with death."
McBride initially wasn't considered a suspect in the case after she brought the dogs into the Los Angeles Police Department station. "My client had absolutely no involvement in the theft of the dogs," McBride's attorney told TMZ earlier this year. "She loves dogs and was glad to participate in their safe return. She is legally entitled to and deserves the reward."
Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Michele Hanisee said that McBride was aware the dogs were stolen when she returned them. Three individuals—James Howard Jackson, Jaylin Keyshawn White, and Lafayette Shon Whaley—were charged with one count each of attempted murder, conspiracy to commit robbery, and second-degree robbery. McBride and Harold White, meanwhile, were charged with one count each of accessory after the fact.
