A man in Palm Beach County has filed a lawsuit after being viciously attacked by a neighbor’s dog. Nicholas Scolavino filed the complaint on August 2, 2024, in the Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit against WSRE CP PAC Investors, LLC, doing business as Pacifica, and four individuals: Rosemine Joseph, Rosemonde Adolphe, Alisa Ducard, and Normanda Michel.

According to the complaint, Scolavino was walking from his apartment building at 1080 Audace Avenue to the parking lot on June 29, 2023. As he neared the bottom of the stairs, he encountered Rosemine Joseph with her Pit Bull named “Lucky.” The dog was on a leash but suddenly lunged at Scolavino without warning and bit him in his pelvic area near his genitalia. Despite Joseph’s attempts to pull the dog away, it took several tries before Scolavino could break free from Lucky’s grip.

Scolavino alleges that all defendants were aware that Lucky had previously bitten another resident but failed to take necessary precautions. He claims that Joseph is strictly liable for his injuries under Sections 767.01 and 767.04 of Florida Statutes, which hold dog owners responsible for any damage their dogs cause. “Owners of dogs shall be liable for any damage done by their dogs to a person,” states Section 767.01.