Landlord Sues NHL Star for Dog Damage

CLAYTON, Mo. (CN) - A landlord sued St. Louis Blues star T.J. Oshie, claiming the hockey player's dogs did $12,000 damage to a penthouse suite.

Ashley Development dba Buckingham Apartments sued Timothy J. Oshie in St. Louis County Court.

"Defendant's unit is commonly referred to as a 'penthouse,' which is located on the top of the building and has an outdoor patio which opens off of the main living area through four (4) large Kolbe custom made window/door units, giving a panoramic view of the City of St. Louis skyline," the complaint states.

"Defendant, during the lease term, maintained two dogs which he customarily kept locked out onto the patio. During defendant's tenancy, said dogs scratched and/or chewed on the custom screens, causing them to suffer irreparable damage necessitating the need for their replacement."

Buckingham claims the dogs did $11,026.92 in damages and it will cost another $1,000 to repaint or stain the door frames.

Oshie paid $3,750 a month rent - including utilities, sewer, trash, satellite TV and Internet services, according to the complaint.

"Under the terms of the lease, defendant was fully responsible and liable for any and all injury done to the apartment unit or building and in the event the defendant did not leave the apartment in the same condition in which it was received, plaintiff is entitled to recover all of its damages plus fifteen percent (15 percent) overhead to put the lease premises back to its original condition, minus reasonable wear and tear," the complaint states.

Oshie, 26, was a first-round draft pick (24th overall) for the Blues in 2005, after playing college hockey at North Dakota.

He has been a fan favorite since his NHL debut with the Blues in 2008.

Last season he scored his career highs in goals (19) and assists (35), while leading the Blues to a 49-22-11 record.

Ashley Development is represented by Thomas E. Osterholt Jr. of Spencer Fane Britt & Browne in St. Louis.

The complaint does not state what kind of dogs he has. In a YouTube video, Oshie says they are rescue dogs. One is a little mutt and the other looks like a black Labrador retriever.

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