Lowes Home Improvement, the North Carolina-based mega-chain, is facing a lawsuit filed by the family of a child who was bitten by a dog inside one of its stores.
The Press Enterprise reports that the Zubaidi family of Murrieta filed the suit regarding an incident that occurred last year, when their then-3-year-old son was bitten in the face while inside the store with his father and grandmother. The dog, Chester, a purebred Akita, was on a leash and being walked by the owner through the stores garden department. Injuries the boy sustained in the attack required around 50 stitches.
Also named in the lawsuit is Robert Steven Kahn, the dogs owner. Kahn was arrested and charged with felony negligence in January of this year. He is pleading not guilty to the charges, reports the Press Enterprise.
The lawsuit alleges that Lowes was responsible for the incident because the store failed to forbid Kahn from bringing his dog inside the store. According to reports, a spokeswoman for Lowes, Karen Cobb, had previously stated that the home improvement store chain does not permit non-service animals inside any stores nationwide for “safety and sanitary reasons.”
Additionally, the lawsuit states that store employees on duty at the time of the attack did not call 911 in the aftermath.
Investigators determined that the dog had been involved in previous incidents with young children, including scratching a childs finger and biting another childs arm. However, Chester was not euthanized after animal control officials determined that Kahn was “irresponsible” as an owner. Eventually, Chester was placed in an Akita rescue shelter.
The Zubaidi family seeks damages in excess of $25,000 in the lawsuit.
The Raleigh personal injury attorneys at Kelly & West are experienced with handling cases that involve various types of personal injury, including dog bite lawsuits. If you or a loved one are considering a personal injury lawsuit, contact us to discuss the details of your case today.
