1.5 million awarded by jury in
New Jersey
pit bull attack
In November 2009, a Middlesex County New Jersey jury awarded $1.5 million to 30-year-old Anne Krystopik , for the damages she sustained in a 2006 pit bull attack at her father's home. According to news reports, the dog was owned by a friend of the plaintiff's father, and the father looked after the dog while his friend was at work. The attack happened when the plaintiff entered her father's house which happened to be dark at the time. Plaintiff's counsel argued that the dog had propensities for aggression and was not maintained properly by the owner of the dog, or the father. The plaintiff suffered 17 bites or lacerations. Note that in New Jersey, plaintiffs are not allowed to ask for a specific damage amount in a civil suit. The jury decides the payment, and in this case the damage award was considerable. The award suggests that juries may take a dislike to owners who appear to act irresponsibly in terms of their care and maintenance of pit bull type dogs.
Contact Info:
Animal Behavior Counseling Services, Inc.
2288 Manning Ave.
Los Angeles, California 90064
Telephone: (310) 474-3776
Nationwide: (800) 605-2227
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