ANSWER As and for her answer to the complaint herein, the defendant, Michelle Ninstant, respectfully shows and alleges as follows: 1. Admits the truth of the allegations in Paragraphs 1, 2, and 8 of the complaint. 2. Denies knowledge or information sufficient to form a belief as to the truth of the allegation(s) of Paragraph 3 of the complaint. 3. Denies the allegations of Paragraphs 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10 of the complaint.
AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES
First Affirmative Defense 4. The Plaintiffs claims are barred, in whole or in part, by the doctrine of unclean hands. Plaintiff breached its contractual obligations by not providing a fully trained service dog as contracted. The Plaintiff provided the Defendant with a sick dog, unable to perform as a service dog, and failed to provide the proper training for dog.
Second Affirmative Defense 5. The Plaintiffs claims are barred, in whole or in part, because the Defendant was fraudulently induced into by the Plaintiff to sign the contract in question. The Plaintiff failed to disclose the existence of a contract to the Defendant until after the Defendant had paid money to the Plaintiff. The Defendant was forced to sign the contract or lose the money she had paid and the dog she had paid for.
Third Affirmative Defense 6. The contract is unconscionable. The Defendant had no input into the forming of the contract. The contract provides for the protection of the Plaintiff only and gives no bargaining power to the Defendant upon Plaintiffs breach of contract.
Fourth Affirmative Defense 7. The contract is illegal. The contract entails a fundraising clause as well as instructs the Defendant on how to fundraise for the Plaintiffs. However, at the time the contract was signed by the parties, the Plaintiffs were not legally registered to fundraise or accept fundraised monies in the state of New York.
COUNTERCLAIM
8. Plaintiff provided Defendant with an untrained dog and failed to provide training for said dog to become a service dog for Defendants child. 9. Plaintiff provided the Defendant with a dog that was sick and requires continuous medical treatment. 10. Plaintiff has caused the Defendant emotional stress in due to the lies regarding the dogs ability to perform, putting the life of the Plaintiffs child at risk. Plaintiff has lost time at work and time and personal time as a result of ongoing problems with the dog. 11. Upon information and belief, the Defendant has already paid the Plaintiff $7000 towards the dog and ongoing training for the dog.
WHEREFORE, Defendant prays that this court dismiss the complaint of the Plaintiff herein with costs and disbursements to the Defendant, together with any other relief the court finds to be just and proper.
FURTHERMORE, the Defendant demands judgment in the amount of $13,500.00 for ongoing medical treatment for the dog, lost wages, refund of money already paid to Plaintiff, and lost wages and also demands that the Plaintiff release any and all claims it may have regarding the dog.