In a recent court filing, Bryon Isao Takahata has lodged a complaint against James Arlington for negligence and breach of contract. The lawsuit was filed by Takahata in the 113th Judicial District Court of Harris County, Texas on May 17, 2024.
According to the petition, the incident that prompted this legal action occurred on June 30, 2023. On that day, Takahata was in his backyard when he was viciously attacked by Arlington's American Akita dog. The complaint alleges that Arlington allowed his dog to roam freely in the neighborhood in violation of Dallas County animal regulations, which mandate that dogs must be restrained by a leash or confined within an enclosure. As stated in the petition, "Defendant’s breach of duty imposed by the regulation proximately caused injury to plaintiff," resulting in severe and permanent injuries to Takahata.
The lawsuit further accuses Arlington of being aware of his dog's dangerous propensities but failing to take necessary precautions to prevent such an attack. "Defendant knew or had reason to know the animal had dangerous propensities," the complaint asserts. This negligence is cited as a direct cause of Takahata's injuries.
Additionally, Takahata claims that Arlington breached a contractual agreement made on February 20, 2023. The agreement stipulated that Arlington would compensate Takahata with $1,220,000 for personal bodily injury. However, Arlington allegedly failed to honor this agreement, prompting Takahata to seek legal representation to enforce payment.
As a result of these events, Takahata is seeking substantial damages from Arlington. These include compensation for past and future medical expenses, physical pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of earnings and earning capacity, disfigurement, and loss of consortium. The plaintiff also requests attorney's fees and costs associated with pursuing this case.
Representing Bryon Isao Takahata is Kristin Suniga from the Law Offices of Marcos & Associates P.C., while details about James Arlington’s legal representation were not disclosed in the filing. The case is presided over by Judge Brianna Janel Denmon under Case ID 2024-31646.