In this Illinois case, the State charged the defendant with sexually abusing a teenager, R.L., who experienced PTSD as a result of the abuse. Citing the Americans with Disabilities Act, the State moved for permission to let R.L. testify with her service dog present because it feared she might experience a PTSD episode on the stand. Motion granted, and order affirmed. Apparently, other states have also concluded that the presence of a service dog does not create undue sympathy for a testifying victim.
Does allowing victim to testify with her service dog create undue sympathy for her?
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