Trial Magazine

Roe owned a German shepherd that allegedly had a history of fighting with other dogs and escaping from Roe’s yard. One day, the dog bit Doe, a ­4-year-old neighbor, on the head and dragged him, causing him to suffer head wounds. He required several plastic surgery procedures, including an ear reconstruction, and anticipates additional surgeries, including hair transplants and a scar revision.

Doe sued Roe, alleging failure to secure the dog by, among other things, making sure it could not escape from the yard. The plaintiff argued that the ­backyard gate was secured by a rope that the dog was able to breach.

The parties settled before trial for $400,000.

Citation: Doe v. Roe, Confidential Dkt. No. (Pa. Ct. Com. Pl. Bucks Cnty. Undisclosed Date).

Plaintiff counsel: AAJ member R. Tyler Tomlinson, Yardley, Pa.

Plaintiff experts: Brent Rosen, cosmetic surgery, Doylestown, Pa.; and Kimberly Kushner, life care planning, Philadelphia.