BELLEVILLE — The owners of a Boxer Pit Bull breed dog are being sued after a child allegedly suffered an unprovoked attack by the animal a the defendants' Dupo home.
T.C., a minor by and through his father and next friend Keith Campbell, Jr., filed a complaint Feb. 24 in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit for St. Clair County against Cedrik Mendez and Jesus Martinez violation of the Illinois Animal Control Act, strict liability and negligence.
The plaintiffs allege in their suit that on July 31, 2020, T.C. was an invited guest at the defendants' home on South Main Street in Dupo. They claim that T.C., was allowed into the basement of the home by the defendants, where they kept their Boxer Pit Bull in a cage. The plaintiffs allege the dog escaped the cage and attacked T.C., causing him to suffer permanent disfigurement to his upper torso, ear, shoulder and head.
The plaintiffs allege that the defendants never warned of their dog's "violent, vicious and aggressive propensities" and the dog's history of attacks and "threatening behavior."
The plaintiffs seek compensation of more than $50,000 and all other just relief. They are represented by Shaun Lieser of The Lieser Law Firm LLC in St. Louis and Thomas Keefe III of Keefe, Keefe & Unsell PC. in Belleville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 21-L-0177