The parents of a 5-year-old boy are suing after their son was allegedly attacked and injured by dogs while at an airfield near Galveston, TX, earlier this year.
According to court discovery documents, L. Ford Ferguson, IV and Amanda Ferguson, individually and as next friends of W.F., a minor child, filed a complaint Aug. 21 against Michael King, Karen King, Ascent Aviation Solutions, LLC, Ascent Aviation, LLC and Skylifts, LLC. The complaint was filed in the 10th District Court of Galveston County, TX.
The complaint says that the Fergusons and the Kings have hangars at opposite ends of the complex at Scholes Field. On April 29, it details, W.F. was with his father, L. Ford Ferguson IV (“Chip”) in their hangar with Nathan Featherston and Jason Sullivan. While W.F. and his brother played in the Fergusons’ hangar, the complaint says, the Kings’ two large Akitas came in, unaccompanied by their owners. The complaint says W.F. hid under a chair, and Chip yelled at the dogs, which then went away.
After the kids resumed playing, the complaint says, “W.F. went just outside of the Plaintiff’s hangar. Moments later, Chip heard W.F. screaming, and Chip, Jason, and Nathan ran outside to see W.F. lying face-down on the ground in a pool of blood with a large laceration on W.F.’s head.”
The complaint says the dogs were around him, and that W.F. was able to identify the one that initially attacked him, but doesn’t know if the other did as well, the suit states.
“The Kings’ dogs have a history of being aggressive and have previously been accused of dangerous activity,” the complaint says.
The plaintiffs allege the defendants were negligent, owing them “a duty of ordinary care to control their dogs in a reasonably prudent manner to avoid the dogs’ attack on W.F.” They also allege the defendants had and neglected a duty to comply with Texas Health and Safety Code and municipal and county regulations regarding dangerous dogs.
The plaintiffs are seeking monetary relief between $250,000 and $1 million, the suit states. They are seeking actual damages, exemplary damages, costs
of court, interest, and any other just relief.
The plaintiffs are being represented by S. Benjamin Shabot of Beeton Shabot, LLC in Galveston.
The 10th District Court of Galveston County, case number 23-CV-1351