In a gripping legal battle unfolding in Palm Beach County, Florida, a woman has filed a lawsuit against multiple business entities and an individual following a vicious dog attack. Jennifer Vitale initiated the complaint on January 10, 2025, targeting South Florida Lodging, LLC, Motell, LLC, Irache Partners, LLC, and Krista Kilby as defendants.
The incident at the heart of this case occurred on June 5, 2024. Vitale claims she was attacked by a Pitbull owned by Krista Kilby while staying as an invitee at The Inn at Boynton Beach. The lawsuit asserts that the dog bit her on the left side of her groin area when she opened the main glass door to the lobby of the inn. According to Vitale's complaint, this attack resulted in a deep laceration requiring emergency medical attention and has caused her ongoing pain and suffering.
Vitale's lawsuit accuses South Florida Lodging, Motell, and Irache Partners of failing to maintain a safe environment for their guests. She argues that these companies had ownership and control over The Inn at Boynton Beach and thus bore responsibility for ensuring guest safety. "Defendant South Florida Lodging owed a non-delegable duty to invited guests...to maintain a reasonably safe and secure premises," reads one part of the complaint. Similar allegations are made against Motell and Irache Partners.
Furthermore, Vitale alleges that these entities were aware or should have been aware of the potential danger posed by Kilby's Pitbull but failed to take appropriate action to mitigate this risk. The plaintiff argues that these failures amount to negligence under premises liability laws. In addition to seeking damages exceeding $50,000 for medical expenses and emotional distress from these companies, Vitale is also pursuing strict liability claims against Kilby under Florida Statute §767.04.
Kilby is accused of being negligent in controlling her dog despite knowing its aggressive tendencies. "That the Defendant Kilby knew or should have known of the vicious propensity of her dog," states another section of the filing. Asserting that Kilby's lack of restraint led directly to her injuries, Vitale seeks further compensation from Kilby for failing to warn invitees about her dog's dangerous nature.
Represented by attorneys Jesse N. Bernheim and Dor Schwartz from Bernheim Kelley Battista LLC in Fort Lauderdale, Jennifer Vitale is demanding both pre-judgment and post-judgment interest along with costs associated with this trial by jury demand.
The case has been filed under Case Number: 502025CA000270XXXAMB.