$________ Dog bite – Plaintiff claims calf bite by tied dog – Sutures – Permanent scarring – Damages only

Broward County, FL

This action arose after the plaintiff, a female in her 30s, was bitten by a pit bull owned by the defendant dog owner. The owner of the property where the incident occurred was also named as a defendant in the case. The defendants were in default for failing to answer the complaint, and the case proceeded on the issue of damages only.

The plaintiff resided near the property where the defendant dog owner kept a pit bull tied on a 10 to 13 foot leash. The plaintiff claimed that the dog lunged at her as she was passing by and bit her on the calf. The plaintiff maintained that the defendant dog owner should not have kept the canine tied on the premises, and that the co-defendant property owner was negligent for allowing him to do so.

The plaintiff sustained dog bite wounds and extensive scarring to the calf, which her plastic surgeon indicated will require reconstructive surgery in the future.

The defendants appeared in court unrepresented. The defendant dog owner contended that the plaintiff had made a good recovery from her dog bite injuries.The jury found the defendant dog owner 50% responsible, and the co-defendant property owner 50% responsible. The plaintiff was awarded $________ in damages.