Tag Archives: Suing Municipalities

Washington State Court of Appeals Upholds Jury Verdict in Vicious Dog Mauling Case

UPDATE 01/16/14: On January 9, 2014, the Supreme Court of Washington rejected Pierce County's request for review of Gorman v. Pierce County. The jury verdict stands and cannot be appealed higher. The case was tried before a jury in July 2011 by Mike McKasy and Shelly Speir of the Tacoma-based law firm, Troup, Christnacht, Ladenburg, McKasy, Durkin & Speir. The jury agreed that Pierce County and the dog owners were at fault, awarding Gorman $2.2 million. After the jury tr… [Read full blog post]

After $2.2 Million Award, Dog Bite Victim Sue Gorman Says System is Still Flawed

Safety Issues Persist Gig Harbor, WA - On August 21, 2007, two pit bulls entered a residential home through a side sliding door and attacked a disabled woman while she slept. The victim, 59-year-old Sue Gorman, suffered serious injuries to her face, forearms and hands. Prior to the incident, animal control had made over a dozen visits to the home of the dogs' owners due to complaints by area residents. Gorman alone had called 911 at least ten times leading up to the attack. There… [Read full blog post]

2005 Dog Bite Fatality: Victim's Family Sues Animal Control in Spotsylvania

Officers Cleared in Suit UPDATE 03/06/09: A jury decided against awarding any money to Dorothy Sullivan's beneficiaries in the wrongful death suit filed against county employees. The suit, filed in 2007 against four Spotsylvania County animal control officers, claimed gross negligence by the officers in the time leading up to Sullivan's killing by a pack of pit bulls in March of 2005. Deanna Large, who owned the dogs, was convicted later that year of involuntary manslaug… [Read full blog post]