Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

News

Lady Sues McSorley's Over Cute, Allegedly Villainous Cat


By

Ben Yakas

Published Dec 5, 2010

Modified Dec 5, 2010


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .

Wanted: Minnie The Second. Likes: balls of yarn, curling up with newspapers, viciously attacking unsuspecting marks from New Jersey.

 

Gothamist

View all 6


By

Ben Yakas

Published Dec 5, 2010

Modified Dec 5, 2010


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

A New Jersey woman is suing East Village institution McSorley's Old Ale House because of a serious case of cat-scratch litigatory fever. Cheryl Sibley, 53, of Hasbrouck Heights, claims that she was viciously attacked by a bitchy regular at the bar in October 2009—bar cat Minnie the Second. In her lawsuit, Sibley says the "live animal" (...is there any other kind?) attack left her with "serious injuries" that required medical care. We assume it took the whole last year for her to recover from this vicious assault, and only recently was able to call her lawyer to file this incredibly important and timely lawsuit.

McSorley's owner, Matthew Maher, is shocked and confused by the allegations, and says he doesn't allow Minnie to roam the bar during drinking hours, which is a violation of city law: "I have no recollection of any attack. If I would have known, I would have been the first to call her and say 'Are you OK? Can I do anything for you?'...[Sibley] must have been here after hours," he said. As far as we're concerned, unless the cat bites through two of your fingers, you probably don't have a paw to stand on.

Tagged

bar cat

cat

lawsuit

McSorley's


Ben Yakas

Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE news

NYC tow companies busted for ripping off drivers must give $67K in refunds, city says

Mayor Mamdani has expanded enforcement on towing scams, but the unlicensed towing industry remains largely unregulated.

By

Liam Quigley

Published Oct 2, 2026 at 4:47 p.m. ET


Off-duty NYPD officer stabbed in the Bronx, police say

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Commissioner Jessica Tisch visited the officer in the hospital.

By

Ryan Kost

News

Off-duty NYPD officer stabbed in the Bronx, police say

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and Commissioner Jessica Tisch visited the officer in the hospital.

By

Ryan Kost


DOC negligence factored in death at Rikers' Bellevue hospital outpost, jail officials say

By

Brittany Kriegstein

Conductor on NYC subway that dragged man to death may have skipped safety check, source says

By

Stephen Nessen

NYPD still searching for man who threw burning substance on victim in East Harlem

By

Ryan Kost


Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .