Melvin Price Park in Swansea.
Shannon Peyla claims her 13-year-old daughter was attacked by a pit bull while attending a birthday party March 10 at Melvin Price Park in Swansea, according to a personal injury lawsuit filed against the dog's owners.
Peyla filed the complaint against Troy Compton and Wanda Shea in St. Clair County Circuit Court on Aug. 14 claiming her daughter sustained multiple dog bite lacerations to her face resulting in permanent scarring as well as the loss of a front tooth.
Peyla claims the defendants brought the dog to the birthday party even though the same dog allegedly had bitten a child in October 2006.
"If a dog or other animal, without provocation, attacks or injures any person who is peaceably conducting himself or herself in any place where he or she may lawfully be, the owner of such dog or other animal is liable to such person for the full amount of the injury proximately caused thereby," the complaint states.
Peyla claims her daughter's injuries have caused great pain and suffering. She also claims that she became liable for her daughter's medical expenses.
She claims the defendants negligently allowed the pit bull to enter the property where her daughter was located when they knew or should have known of the dog's vicious nature and tendency and propensity to bite and attack people without provocation.
Peyla also claims the defendants failed to warn her daughter of the dog's vicious nature and failed to control the dog when they knew the dog has bitten children before.
Represented by the Rex Carr Law Firm in East St. Louis, Peyla is seeking damages in excess of $50,000, plus costs.