Ezekiel Elliott, the famed footballer with the Dallas Cowboys, maybe finding out the hard way (yet again) that dog owners are responsible for the damage their dog’s cause when they attack. Elliott, along with landscaping company Perfect Synthetic Grass, is facing a lawsuit that seeks more than $1 million in damage stemming from the May 20th dog bite attack of Jennifer Gampper. The co-defendant in this case, Ms. Gampper’s employer, was providing landscaping services at Elliott’s residence when three of Elliott’s dogs escaped, one of which allegedly attacked the plaintiff.
Ms. Gampper is seeking relief for what she says are severe, permanent injuries, although those injuries are not specified. The plaintiff is one of two people who were treated at the hospital following the incident. A dangerous dog hearing was held in the aftermath of the attack, and the judge, in that case, ordered Elliott to remove one of the dogs from the city.
Oddly enough, this isn’t Ezekiel Elliott’s first rodeo when it comes to dog bite attack claims. Far from it, in fact. This makes the third such claim brought against the sports celeb in just over a year. In June of 2020, Elliott’s pool cleaner claimed that one of the star’s dogs bit her on the arm and dragged her, and then two of Elliott’s bulldogs attacked her legs.
At least one of the dogs in question in the June attack, Ace, was also allegedly behind a vicious attack on March 25 that led to injuries to a pet resort employee. This case remains in the courts and is unresolved.
While the dog bite attack described above occurred in Texas, the Lonestar State is not alone when it comes to this ever-present threat posed by dangerous dogs. Ohio has its fair share of dog bite attacks too, and across the country, there are millions of dog bite injuries every year, amounting to millions of dollars in dog bite claims for injuries ranging from broken skin to broken bones and even death.
As your Ohio dog bite attorney can attest, Ohio is a “strict liability” state when it comes to dog bites. Essentially, this means that if a dog bites someone, the owner or harborer of the dog is responsible for any damages caused. It is not necessary to prove that the owner of the dangerous dog was negligent. The plaintiff in an Ohio dog bite case simply needs to prove that the dog bite occurred and that it resulted in damages.
However, the person bitten by a dog in Ohio must not be a trespasser or attempted trespasser. And the victim can’t be compensated for injuries sustained during a dog bite attack if the attack occurs during the commission of a crime other than a minor misdemeanor. If the dog is being abused or teased, this may also prevent the plaintiff from collecting damages from the dog’s owner.
Dog bite victims can collect a range of damages, from medical costs and lost income to pain and suffering and emotional distress. Reach out to the experienced dog bite injury lawyers at Paulozzi LPA Injury Lawyers for caring, compassionate counsel and advice. You can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling us at 888-710-0040.
