Nearly three years after mail carrier Pamela Jane Rock was killed by a pack of dogs in Florida, a law has been created to increase safety and penalties for aggressive animal owners.
Per HB 593, which goes into effect July 1 in the state, owners of dogs considered to be “dangerous” must microchip their animals, secure them and have at least $100,000 in liability insurance. This bill defines a dangerous dog as those subject to an investigation which have killed or bitten a person to a “certain severity.” This severity is defined as a score of five or higher on the Dunbar bite scale, a system designed to classify dog bite severities.
The scale ranges as follows:
- Level One — An animal is considered to be a level one if they exhibit aggressive behavior toward a person without skin contact.
- Level Two — A incident in which a dog’s teeth have made contact with a person’s skin, without causing puncture wounds
- Level Three — One to four shallow puncture wounds caused from a single bite. These wounds are not deeper than half the length of the dog’s canine teeth
- Level Four — One to four deep puncture wounds caused from a single bite. At least one will be deeper than half the length of the dog’s canine teeth to be considered a level four bite.
- Level Five — Multiple “Level Four” attacks
- Level Six — A bite resulting in the death of the person.
If an animal is under investigation, authorities will be able to confiscate the dog and humanely euthanize them, under certain conditions. If an owner does not give up their dog after a crime has been committed or does not come forward after the dog has caused a serious injury, there will be harsher penalties for the owner of the animal.
Leesfield & Partners has handled numerous dog and other animal attack cases over nearly five decades of personal injury law.
Who was Pamela Rock?
In August of 2022, 61-year-old Pamela “Pam” Jane Rock was delivering mail when her van broke down, leaving her stranded on a dirt road in Putnam County. Rock had called for help and began delivering mail on foot.
Residents of the Interlachen Lake Estates area later said they heard a woman screaming for help and found Rock being mauled by five dogs who had escaped their fenced-in yard, according to reporting from The Florida Times. Witnesses attempted to intervene by pulling the dogs away from Rock. One neighbor shot his rifle into the ground, hoping the animals would be frightened by the noise.
Rock was transported to a local hospital with severe wounds and was later airlifted to a trauma center in Gainesville. Doctors amputated her right leg, her right arm and left ear, however, Rock died the next day from her injuries.
The same dogs were allegedly a “nuisance” to the neighborhood, one neighbor told reporters. An investigation from the State Attorney’s Office and local police showed that the animals had a history of aggressive behavior.
The owner had allegedly tried to surrender the animals twice in the past. The owner’s latest attempt was just 10 days before Rock’s death. No charges were filed in this case.
The animals in this incident were euthanized.
Leesfield & Partners
Leesfield & Partners is a personal injury law firm with locations throughout Florida including Key West, Miami and Orlando. In 49 years of personal injury litigation, our attorneys have secured numerous record verdicts and settlements for clients who have been injured or their loved ones killed due to the negligence of a corporation, management company or individual. Our attorneys’ keen knowledge of the law, compassion and tenacity are what has earned Leesfield & Partners a reputation as one of the top personal injury law firms in the state.
Leesfield & Partners has been routinely recognized by national and local entities including The Best Lawyers in America, Florida Legal Elite, South Florida Legal Guide Top Firm and Top Lawyers, South Florida Business Journal Key Partners Award, and Super Lawyers.
In Florida, dog owners are strictly liable for injuries caused by their dog, even if the dog has no prior history of aggression. Victims may be entitled to recover damages for medical expenses, lost wages, pain, suffering and emotional distress. At Leesfield & Partners, our experienced trial attorneys advocate tirelessly for every client to pursue the maximum compensation and best possible outcome in each case.
However, it should be noted that dogs aren’t the only pets prone to attacking people and causing serious injuries.
In an ongoing case being handled by Trial Attorney Eric Shane, a Marathon, Florida, woman violently fell to the ground and broke her hip after her neighbor’s pet bird bit her hand while at her condominium’s community pool. This bird was perched on a fence at the time of the bite while our unwitting client folded discarded pool towels nearby.
The animal — which has a history of aggressive behavior — bit her hand, startling her and causing a serious and painful fall.
Previous Cases
Leesfield & Partners attorneys have seen some of the most gruesome dog attack injury cases in recent years. In a case involving a 77-year-old Leesfield & Partners client, the woman was viciously attacked by a neighbor’s dog while walking her own dog to check the mail. Her dog, a Welsh terrier, was on a leash while she walked to the mailbox. A neighbor’s large dog, also on a leash, lunged for the terrier as they approached, causing the neighbor to lose control of the leash.
In an attempt to protect her animal, our client stepped between her pet and the aggressive animal. As a result, she suffered horrific bite wounds to her right elbow, forearms and broken bones in her left hand.
A $1.5 million settlement was secured for the woman in that case.
In another case handled by the firm, a young woman was attacked by a dog while out for a walk. The woman was on a sidewalk when a Chesapeake Bay Retriever rushed at her, escaping from an unlocked gate. The dog lunged for the woman’s neck but she was able to use her arm and shoulder to push away its snarling jaws.
A dog sitter who was watching over the animal failed to intervene or attempt to control the animal. Emergency services were called by people who passed the attack in their car.
The woman’s arm suffered the brunt of the attack and a chunk of flesh was ripped off. A six-figure settlement was reached in that case.
In both of these instances, dog attacks were covered by the pet owners’ insurance policy.
If you believe you have an injury claim after an incident with a pet in Florida, don’t wait. Call Leesfield & Partners for a free consultation at 800-836-6400 or 305-854-4900.