CLEARWATER — A Pinellas County woman is suing Seminole dog owners, alleging negligence and strict liability.
Ashley Rayne Smith filed a complaint Jan. 26 in the Pinellas Circuit Court against Cynthia Matthews-Hamad and Anthony L. Petty, alleging they failed to follow applicable safety guidelines and regulations regarding their dog.
According to the complaint, on Dec. 21, 2017, Smith was sitting on her friend's porch at 10563 Lake Drive, Seminole. The suit says the defendants' black and white pit bulldog known as “Soprano”, attacked Smith without provocation.
Smith says she was injured in and about her body and extremities, suffered pain and mental anguish, disfigurement, incurred medical expenses, suffered physical handicap and lost wages.
The plaintiff alleges Matthews-Hamad and Petty failed to warn Smith of the dangerous condition, and failed to take actions to reduce, minimize or eliminate foreseeable risks with Soprano.
Smith seeks trial by jury, damages in excess of $15,000, plus costs of action and all other just relief. She is represented by attorney Patrick W. Harland Jr. of The Law Firm of Patrick W. Harland Jr. LLC in St. Petersburg.
Pinellas Circuit Court case number 18-CA-557