BELLEVILLE – A Belleville resident has filed a negligence lawsuit, claiming he was injured during an unprovoked attack by his neighbor's dog.
Plaintiff Jeffrey Gintz filed the lawsuit in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Price Breaker Real Estate, LLC and Darius Moody, citing negligence in violation of the Illinois Animal Control Act.
According to the lawsuit, on April 11, 2021, the plaintiff was outside of his Belleville home when Moody's dog allegedly came onto his property and suddenly attacked him without provocation.
Gintz alleges that prior to the incident, Moody had known the dog was dangerous but still allowed his dog to roam the region, endangering local residents.
Price Breaker Real Estate is named in the lawsuit because the company owned and leased the property that Moody resided at. It allegedly knew Moody housed a dangerous dog on the property but took no action to prevent him from allowing his dog to roam the area.
Gintz claims he sustained severe and permanent injuries, which have caused him to experience pain, suffering, mental anguish, and lost wages. He claims his injuries will affect his ability to enjoy normal activities and earn income in the future. He adds that he has has incurred medical expenses and will continue to require the services of medical staff to recover.
The lawsuit states that under the Illinois Control Act, the owner of a dog is liable for injuries caused by the animal.
The plaintiff is seeking damages in excess of $50,000 and any other relief the court deems proper. He is represented in this case by attorney Pamela Brennan in Belleville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 23LA0404