On November 23, 2017, the world changed for our Plaintiff, eventually leading to a dog attack lawsuit. As she was preparing to celebrate Thanksgiving with her family, nature called for her pet chihuahua. She brought her dog outside and walked to a nearby side street close to her home. Her chihuahua was walking on the leaf-covered ground on a neighbor’s property, only a few feet from the curb of the road. Without a word of warning, the Plaintiff saw a black flash cut across her vision and then heard a bloodcurdling scream come from where her dog was walking. She looked over, threw her phone to the ground, and ran towards her dog. Her dog was in the jaws of a dark-colored pitbull/boxer and was crying for help. The Plaintiff tried to free her dog from the jaws of the other dog, putting her fingers in the mouth of the pitbull/boxer. The dog began biting down on the Plaintiff’s hands. In an attempt to save the dog, she loved so very much, our Plaintiff began to wrestle with the neighbor’s dog. The Plaintiff screamed for help, but no one came.
The attack seemed to last an eternity. Eventually, the owner of the dog, the Defendant, wandered down to his property line and saw the Plaintiff wrestling with his dog. He pulled the dog off of the Plaintiff and brought the dog into his house. The Defendant left the Plaintiff on the ground, covered in blood, and crying. The Defendant did not say a word to the Plaintiff nor offered assistance. The Defendant and his family drove off only a few minutes later. His lack of empathy was a key contributor to the award from the dog attack lawsuit.
Impact of the dog attack
After the attack, our Plaintiff’s dog perished due to its significant injuries after numerous surgeries. As a result of the dog attack, the Plaintiff sustained significant injuries to both of her hands resulting in the assignment of permanent partial disability ratings. She also suffered multiple contusions and abrasions to her arms and legs. Finally, the attack on the Plaintiff caused her to develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and aggravated numerous other existing conditions including insomnia. The Plaintiff continues to suffer from nightmares and flashbacks. Luckily for our Plaintiff, she found a lawyer who specializes in dog attack lawsuits at Guendelsberger Law Offices.
Torrington, CT Jury Decision
The Torrington jury awarded our Plaintiff the full value of her medical bills: $16,310.00, lost wages: $19,331.20, future medical costs for psychological treatment: $25,000.00, and the veterinary costs for providing care to her chihuahua: $18,910.87. Additionally, the jury awarded the Plaintiff over $128,000.00 in pain and suffering damages.
The Plaintiff was represented by Attorney Jonathan Formichella and Attorney Robert Guendelsberger of Guendelsberger Law Offices, LLP in New Milford, CT.