NJ Woman Files Lawsuit in Dog Attack at Animal Shelter
People visit animal shelters to pick out a new friend for their household. They may be expecting to bring home a new cat or dog or perhaps an exotic animal. But one thing they are not expecting is to get bitten and severely injured by a dog.
Unfortunately, a woman from Scotch Plains experienced this first hand. She was left with serious facial injuries after a pit bull attacked her while she was visiting a local animal shelter more than a year ago. She has recently filed a lawsuit seeking compensation for the injuries she suffered in the attack.
The woman filed the civil complaint on March 6 in Middlesex County Superior Court. The Township of Edison and the Edison Municipal Animal Shelter were named as defendants, as well as several shelter employees and handlers.
On November 8, 2024, the woman was at the Edison Municipal Animal Shelter, located at 125 Municipal Blvd. in Edison when shelter staff allowed her to interact with a pit bull named “Ace,” who was in the shelter’s care and custody. Without warning, the dog lunged and bit the woman in the face.
According to the lawsuit, the woman suffered serious injuries to her face, including facial lacerations, a full-thickness nasal laceration, and exposed cartilage. She is also claiming permanent scarring and disfigurement. The woman received extensive medical care, including emergency treatment, plastic surgery, and sutures. She may also need surgery in the future.
The woman is suing the animal shelter, claiming that it breached its duty of care by failing to properly restrain and control the dog and allowing public interaction without adequate safeguards, and failing to train and supervise shelter personnel. The woman also claims she was not warned that the dog was potentially dangerous.
The lawsuit also alleges that the animal shelter should have known that permitting close facial interaction with a large pit bull posed a risk of serious bodily injury. It also names the Township of Edison as a defendant, claiming that the township negligently permitted unsafe public interaction with the dog.
The lawsuit cites New Jersey’s dog bite statute, N.J.S.A. 4:19-16. New Jersey is a strict liability state, which means that a dog owner or harborer is liable for damages when a person is bitten while legally on the premises. The woman is seeking compensatory damages, interest, and court costs of an unknown amount.
Contact a New Jersey Personal Injury Lawyer Today
Dogs can bite at any time. Even a shelter dog can bite without warning and cause life-threatening and long-term injuries.
Liability can be complicated in these cases, especially when the dog is at the shelter. Who owns it? Who is at fault? Get the help you need from a Morristown dog bite injury attorney from The Law Offices of Michael P. Burakoff. We will get you the compensation you deserve. Schedule a consultation with our office today by calling (973) 455-1567 or filling out the online form.
Source:
patch.com/new-jersey/scotchplains/pit-bull-bites-scotch-plains-woman-face-lawsuit-filed-against-edison-animal
