A vicious dog attack has led to a lawsuit in Harris County, Texas, where Nguyen Le has filed a complaint against Victoria Torres Villalobos on June 14, 2024. The plaintiff is seeking damages for injuries sustained during the incident.
According to the court filing, Nguyen Le was taking out the trash on March 29, 2024, when she encountered an unsecured dog owned by Victoria Torres Villalobos. The dog attacked Le, biting her leg and causing severe injuries that required immediate medical attention. The plaintiff asserts that Villalobos failed to secure her dog properly, thereby breaching her duty of care to prevent harm to others.
The complaint details several accusations against Villalobos, including negligence and strict liability. "Defendant was negligent in one or more of the following: failing to confine, restrain and control her dog; failing to properly handle the dog; failing to secure the dog; and failing to protect the general public and Plaintiff Le’s safety," reads the petition. Additionally, it states that Villalobos violated specific provisions of the Texas Health & Safety Code §§ 822.005 and 822.044 by not preventing her dangerous dog from attacking outside its enclosure.
Le's legal team argues that these actions constitute negligence per se because they breach statutory duties designed to protect individuals like Le from such incidents. "At all times material to this cause of action, Plaintiff Le belonged to a class of persons the statute was enacted to protect," notes the filing.
In terms of relief sought, Nguyen Le is asking for monetary compensation ranging between $200,000 and $1 million. She seeks recovery for past and future medical expenses, physical pain, mental anguish, physical disfigurement, physical impairment, and loss of earnings due to the attack.
Representing Nguyen Le is attorney Michael C. Watson from Houston-based law firm located at 2617 Bissonnet Suite 452. The case will be heard in Harris County District Court under Case ID 2024-3796 with Judge Marilyn Burgess presiding over the matter.