This period of reporting covers August 2014 through February 2015, and includes at least 14 fatal pit bull attacks. The legal trends during this period indicate increased number of lawsuits brought by victims of pit bull attacks, including attacks on companion animals.
The following list includes only a few of the more notable recent legal cases involving pit bull attacks during this period.
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February 25, 2015; Las Vegas, NV
Bail Set at $40,000 for Dog Owner in Las Vegas Mauling Case
. . . . Skin and muscle was stripped from the arms of the 65-year-old woman, and she suffered deep leg and facial injuries and a broken left wrist, . . . Doctors initially feared the woman would lose an arm and an eye. . . . . Vonstaden is a law office information technology employee with a 7-year-old daughter. Leventhal [Vonstaden's attorney] said she raised the dogs since they were puppies. "These were rescue dogs," the attorney said. "She never abused these dogs."
Jessie Vonstader
[for additional images click here]
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February 23, 2015; West Mifflin, PA
District attorney to review case of girl killed by pit bull
February 13, 2015; Dayton, OH
Estate Of Woman Fatally Mauled By Dogs Files Lawsuit Against County
Klonda Richey, d. February 7, 2014
February 11, 2015: Gretna, LA
Mother of four-year-old attacked by pit bull sues
An unspecified amount in damages is sought for physical pain and suffering, discomfort, disability, mental anguish, aggravation, annoyance, medical expenses, lost wages, loss of enjoyment of life, loss of function of parts of body, loss of enjoyment of life, impairment of psychological functioning, disability for engaging in recreation and destruction of earning capacity.
February 4, 2015; Santa Clarita CA
'Dog Whisperer' Cesar Millan sued in pit bull attack
January 30, 2015; San Diego County CA
Campo Man Plans Legal Action After Pit Bull Attack
January 29, 2015; Jefferson County TX
Discovery phase of trial proceeding in pit bull attack suit
January 22, 2015; Chicago IL
West Chicago pit bull attack that killed neighbor's dog sparks lawsuit
Toto; d. June 24, 2014
January 13, 2015; DeKalb County, GA
Judge overturns $72 million award for pit bull attack
January 8, 2015
After barely surviving an attack by six dogs, Phillip Lieberman shares his story
In the days following the attack, animal control removed 40 dogs from the property where the dogs involved in the attack lived. . . The fate of the dogs responsible for Phillip Lieberman’s mauling remains in question . . . no charges had been filed as of Thursday in relation to the incident, but detectives were in talks with the State Attorney’s Office.
January 7, 2015
Parents of child allegedly injured in pit bull attack at birthday party sue
January 5, 2015
Fatal Littlerock pit bull attack leads to lawsuit against Los Angeles County Animal Control
The complaint also alleges that DACC employees entered updates in internal records to make it appear that they did not know about the Jackson pit bulls before Devitt was killed, and that they followed up on complaints after they were made by the public.
January 4, 2015
Pit bull attack victim files lawsuit
Glenn Boulet, 62, filed suit against Ronnie Gene Casey Jr., 20, of McAlester, who owned the dogs, and Brian L. Gann of Sioux Falls, S.D., who is the owner of the home.
Gann said he had no knowledge of Casey living in his property.
January 2, 2015
Metamora couple face February trial in dog mauling
Prosecutors chose to charge the pair with second-degree murder — a rare prosecution in dog maulings — because the dogs had bitten at least two people leading up to the killing, and Lucaj had been warned by the family vet three months before that the dogs were dangerous and needed immediate training. And investigators say Quagliata admitted the day of the killing that the dogs routinely escaped from their kennel to run the neighborhood.
December 29, 2014
Paradise Hills woman convicted in fatal 2010 pit bull attack wins appeal
November 19, 2014
SC pit bull owner charged after attacks
A mother and her 10-year-old daughter were bitten trying to separate the animals, . . . . The dogs escaped, and two have since been recovered. Police Chief Keith Morton says police got calls about more attacks, including one dog injured so severely it had to be euthanized.
November 18, 2014
Pit bull that attacked Palmyra man will be euthanized, charges dropped against owner
Matthew M. Karinch had been charged with harboring a dangerous dog and failure to confine a dog, both summary offenses. The charges were withdrawn prior to the hearing scheduled on the offenses Tuesday morning . . . The pit bull that attacked and injured an 82-year-old Palmyra man in June in Cornwall will be euthanized, and charges have been dropped against the owner.
November 15, 2014
A woman whose four pit bulls attacked and killed a family’s 10-year-old beagle in October is now suing the deceased dog’s owner for up to $1 million in damages, according to court documents . . .
Bailey, d. October 27, 2014
October 27, 2014
Detroit man has arm amputated following pit bull attack, sues owners
October 23, 2014
Bay City man pleads guilty to misdemeanors stemming from pit bull injuring neighbor
October 21, 2014
Pit bull attack victims considering legal action
October 16, 2014
Newark father faces prison time for pitbull attack on 10-year-old son
October 15, 2014
FATAL PIT BULL ATTACK
Owner may not face charges in fatal pit bull attack
Mother, son attacked by dogs identified
In order to charge anyone in an act like this, we have to be able to show there’s some act of negligence on the part of the dogs' owners," he said. "So far, we’ve not been able to do that. Certainly, the owners face certain civil liability, but criminally, without being able to prove negligence, we’re not going to be able to deliver a case to the district attorney that’s prosecutable.
No criminal charges likely in dog attack on Detroit man
Gulledge said only a small portion of Constantine's upper left arm remains, his left leg now has rods in it, his right leg and arm as well as a good portion of his head are heavily bandaged. . . . It appeared to Gulledge that Constantine still has his feet and his right hand, although he could not see all of his fingers and toes.
September 26, 2014 (Washtenaw County, MI)
Are dog owners whose pit bull attacked child criminally liable?
Paul Mazer and Tawny Denoewer were charged by the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office in the case. Both of them face charges of possessing a dangerous animal causing serious injuries, and Mazer faces added charges of resisting arrest and lying to a peace officer.
Paul Mazer (Courtesy of WCSO)
September 25, 2014
Exeter woman sues over pit bull attack
Roun suffered “serious personal injury, severe and permanent physical and bodily injuries, extreme pain and suffering, significant scarring and disfigurement, numerous medical procedures and therapies, large and continuing medical expenses, emotional distress and mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, lost wages, potential lost earning capacity, and the costs and expenses of litigation. Ms. Roun will continue to suffer from these injuries, damages and losses for a long time in the future,” the suit said.
September 24, 2014 (Washtenaw County, MI)
Attorney seeks to save dogs from 'death row'; claims owner of dead dog lied
Whitmore Lake attorney Michelle Radloff specializes in these types of cases and is representing the Baters pro bono as part of the Lexus Project.
Northfield Township woman attacked by dogs
Zoey; d. July 2014
Photo courtesy of Ellen Mohan
September 20, 2014
FATAL PIT BULL ATTACK
Children of man mailed to death by pit bulls speak out
Hodges is charged with culpable negligent manslaughter.
David Glass Sr. (d. Sept. 20, 2014) with children
September 18, 2014
McHenry pit bull attack spurs lawsuit
September 18, 2014
Atlantic Beach police probe slow response to vicious pit bull attack
September 11, 2014
Grand jury declines to indict two in fatal mauling of neighbor
September 9, 2014
Couple arrested after woman they care for is attacked by pit bulls (ToledoNewsNow)
Toledo guardians indicted in dog attack (Toledo Blade)
September 5, 2014
Beaumont dog owner sued over pit bull attack
September 5, 2014
Charges filed in vicious pit bull attack
September 2, 2014
Unruly dog bites four people, dies after struggle
There were a total of four unlicensed dogs at the residence, two male pit bulls and two female pit bulls, Fromelt said. Charges are pending for unlicensed pets and violation of the three-dog limit.
August 11, 2014
FATAL PIT BULL ATTACK
St. Charles County toddler attacked by family dog has died, officials say
Police said Monday that their investigation has concluded, and no criminal charges are expected.
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Related Posts:
Charges Pending (May 26, 2013)
Charges Pending II (June 20, 2014)
Charges Pending III (Sept 02, 2014)
Charges Pending IV (March 01 2015)
Charges Pending V (Forthcoming )
SRUV uses the definition of "pit bull" as found in the Omaha Municipal Code Section 6-163. As pit bulls are increasingly crossed with exotic mastiffs, Catahoula Leopard Dogs and other breeds, the vernacular definition of "pit bull" must be made even more inclusive.
Sources cited by news media sometimes refer to "Animal Advocates" or sometimes "Experts." In many cases these words are used to refer to single-purpose pit bull advocates who have never advocated for any other breeds or species of animals. Media would be more accurate to refer to these pit bull advocates as advocates of fighting breeds.
Similarly, in many cases pit bull advocates refer to themselves as "dog lovers" or "canine advocates" and media often accepts this usage. The majority of these pit bull advocates are single-purpose advocates of fighting breeds.
Statistics:
Statistics quoted on SRUV are from the nation's authoritative source for current dog attack statistics, the 30+ year, continuously updated Dog attack deaths and maimings, U.S. & Canada.
View or download the current PDF
2014 Year-end report of dog attacks
Animals 24-7; January 3, 2015
32 years of logging fatal & disfiguring dog attacks
Animals 24-7; September 27, 2014
How many other animals did pit bulls kill in 2014?
Animals 24-7; January 27, 2015
This page may also include information from Dogsbite &Fatal Pit Bull Attacks.
Google News: Today's pit bull attacks
2014 Dog Bite Related Fatalities on Daxton's Friends
Index of canine fatalities on Daxton's Friends
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