Our client was a minor child who visited her neighborhood friend’s home for a playdate. There was an agreement between the families that the dog would stay kenneled while the minor child played at their home. The dog had a history of aggressive behavior towards children and individuals walking in front of the home. Nevertheless, the supervising adult allowed the dog to wander the house outside of its kennel, which led to a vicious attack on our client’s face and shoulder region.
MRD attorneys tried a dog bite case before a jury given the severity and extent of client’s emotional and physical injuries.
Defense attorneys claimed that the dog attacked our client because it was protective of the family. Defense attorney minimized the extent of our client’s physical and emotional injuries, refusing to offer over $100,000.
MRD attorneys gathered information concerning the aggressive nature of the dog from multiple individuals living in the neighborhood.
MRD attorneys worked with client’s plastic surgeons and social workers to determine the extent of client’s physical and emotional injuries, respectively.
MRD attorneys filed the case before the 21st Judicial District Court for the Parish of Livingston.
MRD attorneys rejected defense counsel’s attempt to minimize the nature of our client’s physical and emotional injuries, rejecting the insurance company’s settlement offer of no more than $100,000.
After a week-long jury trial, the jury returned a verdict of $360,000 plus legal interest and court costs, more than 3.5x the insurance company’s maximum settlement offer.