A shocking incident involving a dog attack has led to a lawsuit seeking over $50,000 in damages. On August 15, 2024, Deianira Minton filed a complaint in the Sixth Judicial Circuit in and for Pinellas County, Florida, against Matthew Crews and TA Four Lakes Fee Owner LLC, doing business as Four Lakes at Clearwater.

According to the complaint, on April 21, 2024, Minton was walking her dog within the apartment complex managed by Four Lakes at Clearwater when she was attacked by a loose golden retriever owned by Matthew Crews. The attack resulted in severe injuries to both Minton and her dog. Minton alleges that she had previously seen the dog running loose around the premises. During this particular incident, as she attempted to protect her small dog by picking it up, Crews’ dog bit her on the ear and back of her head and scratched her scalp, causing significant injuries.

The complaint details that Crews was either concealing his whereabouts or had become a non-resident of Florida after the incident. Minton asserts that Crews is strictly liable under Florida Statute § 764.04, which holds dog owners responsible for any bites inflicted by their dogs in public places regardless of prior knowledge of the dog’s viciousness. She further accuses Crews of negligence for failing to restrain his aggressive dog and allowing it to roam freely.