$200,000 verdict awarded in favor of dog bite victim, family
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A Washington County judge awarded a total of $200,000 to parents of a child who was bitten by a dog at an Independence Day fireworks display nearly two years ago in Cokeburg.
President Judge Debbie O’Dell Seneca convened a nonjury trial Monday and rendered a verdict that included $125,000 in compensatory damages and $75,000 in punitive damages to David and Amanda Daniels of California and their son, Dasan, who was 2 1/2 years old when he was injured.
The defendant, Matthew Puskarich, 28, of Scenery Hill, did not appear to contest the case, in which he was accused of committing “negligent and outrageous actions.”
According to court records, the Daniels family, who lived at California Terrace, California, was attending the event with several relatives when the toddler climbed out of his stroller, and, as he walked toward his father, saw Puskarich with the dog, identified as a pit bull.
As Dasan approached the dog, which was wearing a collar and slack leash, it bit his face.
Puskarich and a former girlfriend owned the dog, but when they broke up, she kept the pet. Puskarich entered her home in Cokeburg and took the dog that morning, and Puskarich was found guilty on criminal charges were filed over the incident, court records said.
The Danielses alleged that Puskarich mistreated the dog before taking it to the fireworks display, where it was fearful of loud noises.
Dasan went to Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, where he had reconstructive plastic surgery, but he continues to seek treatment.
Recent court documents gave an address for the Danielses as Columbiana, Ohio.