HOUSTON – A woman who sued claiming she was injured while petting a horse lost an appeal seeking to overturn a summary judgment ruling in the defendant’s favor.
In 2017, Melissa Marie Lobue filed suit against Todd Hanson and his rustic wedding venue property, The Barn at Four Pines Ranch, in Crosby.
Court records show Lobue was attending a wedding at the property when she was allegedly injured.
Roughly an hour before the wedding ceremony, Lobue, a bridesmaid, walked out to a patio where a group had gathered to look at two horses. Lobue walked up to the horses and began to pet one named Shiloh. When she moved to pet the other horse, Shiloh disagreed and tossed her to the ground.
Lobue sued Hanson claiming he negligently failed to warn her of Shiloh’s vicious tendencies.
Court records show Hanson moved for summary judgment, arguing that the Farm Animal Act precludes Lobue’s claims. A trial court granted the motion on Nov. 28, 2018.
Lobue appealed, and on April 22 the 14th Court of Appeals found that Lobue has not shown that the trial court erred in granting Hanson’s summary-judgment motion under the theory that her claims were precluded under the Farm Animal Act.
Appeals case No. 14-19-00175-CV