In a dramatic legal showdown, two Harris County residents have filed a lawsuit against their neighbor and the property management company for a vicious dog attack that left them with severe injuries. Rebecca Morris and Artur Szymanski lodged their complaint in the District Court of Harris County on May 31, 2024, naming John Doe and Bridges Property LLC as defendants.
The plaintiffs allege that on November 25, 2023, while exiting their apartment at Bridges of Cypress Creek Apartment Homes in Houston, Texas, they were brutally attacked by an unrestrained pit bull owned by John Doe. According to the court documents, Morris was with her husband Szymanski and their dog when the pit bull launched an unprovoked assault. The attack resulted in Morris sustaining severe injuries to her neck, hands, shoulder, and her dog's shoulder. Szymanski also suffered significant injuries while trying to fend off the attacking dog.
The plaintiffs argue that John Doe knew or should have known about the dangerous propensities of his dog due to its history of violent behavior, including attacking and killing at least two other dogs. "These dangerous propensities were a producing cause of Plaintiffs’ injuries and damages," states the complaint. The lawsuit further accuses John Doe of negligence for failing to restrain his dog properly and not taking necessary actions to prevent such attacks.
Additionally, Bridges Property LLC is accused of negligence for not maintaining a safe environment at the apartment complex. The plaintiffs claim that the property management company failed to exclude the dangerous dog from the premises or warn residents about its presence. "Defendant Premises Owner knew or should have known of Defendant Dog Owner’s dangerous dog on the property," reads another section of the complaint.
Morris and Szymanski are seeking monetary relief under $250,000 for medical expenses, pain and suffering, mental anguish, physical impairment, disfigurement, loss of earning capacity, and other damages yet to be determined. They also demand pre-judgment and post-judgment interest along with court costs.
Representing Morris and Szymanski is attorney Robert Morse from Houston-based law firm Morse Law Firm. The case has been assigned Case ID 2024-34498 in the 269th Judicial District Court of Harris County.