A breach of contract or dog racism? It depends on who you ask.

In a complaint filed last week in Manhattan Supreme Court against Michelle Kelban-Carteron, the board of managers at the Chelsea Modern condominium allege that the New York-based co-chair of Latham & Watkins' real estate practice committed breach of contract by owning and harboring an aggressive pit bull in her unit.

The suit, which immediately attracted the attention of New York tabloids, saw Kelban-Carteron retain high-profile local real estate lawyer Adam Leitman Bailey. The latter claims this case is one of discrimination, plain and simple.