Woman Awarded $5.4 Million After Dog Attack at L.A. Animal Shelter

LOS ANGELES – A Los Angeles County Superior Court jury has awarded Genice Horta $5.4 million after finding she was severely injured by a Belgian Malinois with a documented history of biting at the East Valley Animal Shelter. The verdict, reached last week after a 10-day trial, highlights concerns about safety protocols and disclosure of a dog’s bite history at city animal shelters.

Details of the Attack and Lawsuit

Genice Horta, 51, filed a lawsuit in 2022 alleging she was not adequately warned about the dog’s prior attacks before being hired to transport him out of state. The incident occurred on September 23, 2020, when Horta was contracted by the HIT Living Foundation to transport a Belgian Malinois named Maximus to Arizona. She was told the dog had “kennel anxiety.” After offering Maximus a treat containing trazodone, an anti-anxiety medication, the dog lunged and bit her right hand and arm.

Horta subsequently underwent six surgeries to repair the damage and continues to suffer from permanent injuries, according to court records.

Shelter’s Knowledge of Dog’s History

Evidence presented at trial revealed that Maximus had a documented history of biting incidents, including attacks that sent two people to the hospital. Shelter documentation described the dog as “viciously biting and snapping at people walking past his enclosure,” and included a warning to “USE EXTREME CAUTION!!!”. Despite this history, Horta’s lawsuit alleged she was not properly informed of the risks.

A shelter employee testified that he warned Horta not to approach the dog with the treat and attempted to restrain the animal.

Jury’s Decision and Liability

The jury found the city of Los Angeles 62.5% liable for the injuries, the rescue group HIT Living Foundation 25% liable, and Horta herself 12.5% liable. This is the third multimillion-dollar payout in recent years involving allegations that L.A. Animal shelters failed to notify potential adopters or those handling the dogs about known biting incidents, as required by state law.

Concerns and Ongoing Issues

The case has renewed scrutiny of practices at L.A. Animal shelters, with advocates and city audits raising concerns about chronic staffing shortages, long kennel stays, and inconsistent record-keeping. These issues can obscure a dog’s bite history and potentially increase the risk of attacks.

“The case revealed a series of serious and preventable mistakes made with respect to warning about Maximus’ bite history and adopting out and failing to control a dangerous dog,” said Horta’s attorney, Ivan Puchalt, in a statement.

Sources: WKRC, Los Angeles Times