Laguna Hills resident, Dr. Elaine Christian, has filed a Orange County dog bite claim against the city after she was mauled by three bull mastiffs in December. According to an article in The Orange County Register, the California dog bite lawsuit states that the city should have done more to protect her from the dogs. The 61-year-old Christian was the victim of a vicious dog attack on December 18, 2008. Christian alleges that the city was aware of specific incidents that should have prompted an investigation into whether the dogs were "dangerous or vicious" dogs.
The dog owner is identified in the claim as Leslie Rodriguez. The claim also gives several examples of the bull mastiffs' aggressive behavior. The claim includes instances when the dogs were loose in the neighborhood, when a woman was accosted by one of the dogs in her garage and another time when the mastiffs got into a dog fight in Newport Beach. Christian alleges that the city is liable because it was aware of general deficiencies in Orange County Animal Care Services' dealing with dog bites and had noticed the dogs were "potentially dangerous or vicious," but failed to use reasonable diligence to ensure the animals were properly restrained. Read the rest »
SLS Consulting