Jury awards $5.4 million in dog bite case against Los Angeles city shelter

The jury has spoken in an unusual case against a City of Los Angeles dog shelter.

Late last month, the jury awarded Genice Horta $5.4 million after she was mauled by a dog owned by the shelter.

The facts are a little unusual. A Belgian Melinois named Maximus was adopted by an organization in Arizona. Horta was hired to transport Maximus from the Los Angeles shelter to Arizona. It turns out that Maximus had a history of aggressive behavior. His original owners put him up for adoption after he bit their 15-year-old daughter.

Here’s the issue: a little-known law in California requires dog shelters to warn when it knows that a dog has a history of biting or aggressive behavior. Anyone who adopts a dog or who transfers the dog must be advised in writing, pursuant to Food & Agriculture Code section 30503.5.

Horta claimed she was never advised about Maximus’s violent propensities. The City animal shelter argued that it had already transferred Maximus to the new owners in Arizona, and was thus not required to warn Horta.

At trial, there was testimony that Horta was verbally warned, but nothing was given to her in writing. Horta argued that Maximus should have been euthanized a long time ago.

The jury sided with Horta.

Many people think dog bites are not a serious matter. Genice Horta would disagree. According to this article, she needed multiple surgeries and suffered permanent nerve damage in her arm as a result of Maximus attacking her.

My office has experience handling dog bite cases. When I get a potential dog bite call, I always tell the potential client that dog bites are usually either really bad, or really minor. There is usually not much in between.

I have discussed dog bites many times on these pages. Los Angeles has important dog leash laws. I recently discussed how California leads the country in dog bites against U.S. postal service employees.

It can be overwhelming and stressful when a dog bites a loved one. If you or someone you know has questions about a dog bite, my office is ready to assist, 24/6.