Karina Naus, a resident of Boca Raton, Florida, has filed a lawsuit against her neighbor Scott Vail, accusing him of negligence after an incident involving their dogs led to her injury. The complaint was lodged in the Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County on April 2, 2025. Naus is seeking damages exceeding $50,000 from Vail.
The case revolves around an incident that occurred on March 20, 2024. According to the complaint, Naus was walking her Golden Retriever named "Dude" near Vail's property when Vail's German Shepherd "Tigger" escaped and aggressively approached them. Naus attempted to shield Dude but was injured in the process as she was jerked by Dude's leash, resulting in a fractured finger. The lawsuit claims that Vail failed to properly restrain Tigger, which directly led to Naus's injuries.
Naus's legal team argues that Vail had a duty to ensure his dog was securely restrained within his property boundaries to prevent such incidents. They assert that Vail breached this duty by allowing Tigger to escape and accost Naus and her dog on public property. The complaint states that due to this negligence, Naus suffered not only physical injuries but also endured pain and suffering, mental anguish, and incurred medical expenses. These damages are described as either permanent or ongoing.
In addition to common law negligence claims, the lawsuit invokes Florida Statutes Section 767.01 (2023), which holds dog owners liable for any damage caused by their pets. This statute underpins Naus’s claim for damages resulting from Tigger’s actions during the incident. Her attorneys emphasize that these injuries have affected her quality of life and will continue to do so in the future.
Naus is seeking judgment against Vail for compensatory damages including medical costs and other related expenses as well as interest on liquidated damages. She is also demanding a jury trial for all triable issues under Florida law.
The case is being handled by GED Lawyers LLP with Karina Naus represented by attorneys from their Boca Raton office. The Case Number is: 502025CA003139XXXAMB Div: AH.