The lawsuit is being filed by the Estate of Kenneth D. Bock for Mr. Bock’s wrongful death.  According to the complaint, Bock was working at Chain Lake Mini-Storage in Monroe, WA on February 9, 2010 when the defendant, Konrad Haskins, visited the facility with his dog Buddy.  Haskins allowed his dog to roam free on the Chain Lake property.  The dog then bit two men, including Mr. Bock.  The bite to Mr. Bock was on his index finger.  Soon after Bock developed a life-threatening infection and died ten days later. 

Bock was diagnosed with Capnocytophaga canimorsus sepsis which is a bacterium commonly found in the saliva of cats and dogs.  This bacterium can, as in Bock’s case, result in multiple organ failure due to compromised circulation, renal failure, meningitis, systematic rotting of the flesh, and ultimately death. 

Dogs are the most common household pets in the United States.   The Center for Disease Control estimates that 50% of all Americans will be bitten by a dog during their lifetime and that approximately one million dog bites occur annually.  Capnocytophaga canimorsus sepsis is the main human pathogen associated with dog bites.  The organism frequently causes septicemia, meningitis, endocarditis, and sometimes ocular infections.

“This is a very tragic case that never should have happened,” says Chris Davis, the Bock family’s attorney.  “We know that Mr. Bock was the second person bit by the Haskin’s dog on the day in question, which tells us that Mr. Haskin knew his dog was a danger to other human beings when Mr. Bock was bitten.”  According to Davis, Mr. Bock died a very painful and agonizing death.  “We know that the bacterium from the bite led to multiple organ failure and tissue necrosis – it means that Mr. Bock literally ‘rotted to death’ according my medical experts,” states Davis. 

The complaint alleges that Haskins had prior knowledge that the dog had vicious and/or dangerous propensities that could lead to an attack on humans since the dog had previously bitten, injured or acted aggressively toward other people.  By failing to control the dog the defendants were willfully putting the public in danger.

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About Attorney Christopher M. Davis

Christopher M. Davis has been a licensed attorney in the state of Washington since 1993 and is the founder of the Davis Law Group.  He is the author of several books about injury law including When The Dog Bites: The Essential Guide To Dog Bite Claims In Washington in which Davis explores the legal rights of dog bite victims; outlines the legal and settlement process for dog bite claims; gives tips on dealing with insurance companies; answers common questions asked by dog owners and bite victims; and address legal issues that are often present in animal attack cases. You can learn more about Chris Davis and the Davis Law Group by visiting www.DavisLawGroupSeattle.com.

Media Contact:
Mischelle Weedman-Davis
Davis Law Group, P.S.
Mischelle@DavisLawGroupSeattle.com
Office: 206-727-4000 x102

The clot turns into a blood infection.  It spreads rapidly, causing severe pain to your extremities.  It feels as if your “skin is on fire.” 

Then, within 10 days you are dead.

Can it happen?  Absolutely yes.  We are handling just such a case.

The dog bite spread a bacterium known as Capnocytophaga Canimorsus.  This bacterium is commonly found in dog and cat saliva, and it can cause serious problems in humans.

Once the person is infected, he or she becomes increasingly unwell, with initial lethargy, tiredness, listlessness, and subsequent fevers, rigors and embolic events, including necrosis of the extremities (i.e., tissue dies). Multi-system organ failure follows (Hore, 2001). In these scenarios, infection is often fatal, with mortality rates in the order of 30%.

There are cases reported where a dog lick to a person’s exposed wound has caused the bacterium to spread in a human and then cause death.

In our case, a man was bitten on the finger.  He died within 10 days.  His family is devastated.  The dog owner is legally liable for this wrongful death.  All dog owners are strictly liable for their animal’s bites and attacks, except in limited circumstances.

If you are bitten by a dog, no matter how small the wound, please get prompt medical attention.  It may save your life.

The man was actually bitten on the finger.  He went home where his wife cleaned the wound with disinfectant and sterile bandages.  But the wound continued to hurt and then started to ooze puss.  The man visited the hospital two days later, where he went into a septic shock.  A blood clot formed in his leg, and then suddenly released where the bacterium went through his body and into his heart.  The man was pronounced dead 10 days after the bite occurred. 

The medical examiner determined that the cause of death was capnocytophaga canimorsus. This refers to a common bacteria found in the saliva of dogs and cats.

Dog bites affect 2 million people every year.  Although death from a dog bite infection is rare, it can happen as the above case amply illustrates. 

Inflammation at the site of the dog bite is the most common sign of infection. Redness and swelling generally develop within 8 hours, but it can take up to 24 hours.  You may notice increased warmth around the wound.  This is also a sign of infection, as is pus or a white discharge. If lymph glands become enlarged or sensitive, this can also be a sign of infection.  Another sign is reddish streaks on the arms or legs radiating from the dog bite wound.

If  you are bitten, seek medical attention immediately.  Even if you think the wound is not serious, an infection can quickly spread and cause serious problems, including death.

The dog’s owner is the baby’s grandmother.  Now sheriff’s are pursuing criminal charges against the grandmother.  Why?  Well, the dog had attacked the baby just 24 hours earlier.  The baby’s ear was nearly torn off and had to be re-attached. 

Once a dog owner is aware of the animal’s vicious propensities, that owner has a duty to destroy or quarantine the animal so that it is impossible for it to hurt another human being again.  If the dog causes serious injury to a human, then that dog may be classified as a “dangerous dog” which requires the owner to cage or fence the animal.  Another requirement is that the owner purchase insurance on the animal of no less than $250,000.

It’s shocking that the child’s own grandmother would allow the child to be in the same room with an animal that nearly tore the child’s ear off just a day earlier.  Apparently, that earlier incident was never reported to animal control (like it should have been).

Criminal dangerous dog prosecutions are rare because it is hard to prove that the dog owner had prior knowledge of the dog’s viciousness, or that the dog has inflicted serious injury on a prior occasion (there is no central reporting bank that keeps track of all dog bite attacks in Washington state).

But here, the prosecution may have a decent chance of convicting grandma based entirely on the earlier attack on the child.  I should also think that most jurors would be outraged that the grandmother allowed a second dog attack to occur on this poor child. 

In any event, the child also has a civil claim for damages against her grandmother.  Hopefully, grandma has homeowner’s insurance which would cover such a tragic incident.  My heart goes out to this poor child and I hope she makes a full recovery.  The dog should definitely be put down.

To learn more about dog bite law in Washington state, go to www.WashingtonDogBiteBook.com.

The dog has been declared dangerous according to law.  It will be observed for at least 10 days, and will likely be destroyed.  The name of the dog’s owner was not released.  But the owner is currently in jail.  If the dog’s owner had prior knowledge of the dog’s viciousness or if the dog had attacked other humans in the past, then these facts may support criminal charges.

Children under the age of 10 are the most common victims of dog attacks, according to statistics released by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).  The young boy who was attacked may need rabies shots as a precaution.

Civil liability for dog bite injuries is usually predicated on Washington’s Dog Bite Statute, although common law liability may also exist.  The statute imposes strict liability on dog owners, regardless of prior knowledge of the dog’s viciousness, as long as the attack happened on public property or on private property with the owner’s consent.  The legal defense of provocation is a complete defense available to the dog owner, and will often be alleged by the owner’s insurance company if the injuries are severe and the damages significant.

Davis Law Group has handled dozens of dog bite cases all over the state of Washington during the past 15+ years.  Approximately 85% of these cases involve children who are the victims.  That’s one reason why I wrote my book, “When the Dog Bites: The Essential Guide to Dog Bite Claims in Washington.”  I give this book away for free to parents of dog bite victims and/or their family members.  The book goes in to great detail regarding the specifics of the Dog Bite Statute and the various common law cases that address civil liability.

Cunningham owned two pit bulls.  On September 8, 2008, the dogs attacked and maimed a 71-year-old woman who was standing in the yard of her SeaTac home.  The dogs caused massive injuries and damage to the woman by tearing into her face and extremities.  Her left ear was ripped from her head.  King County Sheriff deputies arrived and shot both dogs dead.

Cunningham’s sentence is lengthy in part because he had a firearms violation in a separate case.  He is also had a probation violation.

The police later discovered that Cunningham had confined the dogs in a kennel with an unlocked gate and missing boards.  According to neighbors, the dogs had escaped several times in the past before the attack.

According to court documents, Cunningham received a 5-year prison sentence because of the gun charge. 

Criminal convictions under the dangerous dog statute are very rare.  To prove that someone owned a dangerous dog, you must show that the owner knew his dog was dangerous or had a proclivity of inflicting serious harm on people.  Even if you can show this prior knowledge, the authorities are unlikely to prosecute unless the dog has inflicted grievous injury or death.

The dangerous dog statute does allow a person to own such an animal if the dog is confined so that it is impossible for it to harm another person.  The owner must also carrier an insurance policy of at least $250,000.  In my experience, most dangerous dog owners carry little if any insurance to cover catastrophic injuries that may be inflicted by their dogs.  Often times the dog attack victim is left with thousands of dollars in medical bills, not to mention permanent scarring and lasting emotional problems.

I recently published my new book, “When the Dog Bites: Understanding Dog Bite Law in Washington.”  The book will be available to dog bite victims.  Please visit www.WashingtonDogBiteBook.com or call 206.727.4000 for your free copy.

  In this book I explain Washington’s Dog Bite Statute and how the common law can be used to successfully pursue a dog bite case.  Some of the other topics include:

1. Nine Mistakes Dog Bite Victims Should Avoid

2. How Dog Owners Can Commit a Crime

3. Children and Dog Bite Cases: Special Considerations

4. Determining the Value of a Dog Bite Case

5. The Legal Process for Dog Bite Cases

I also offer this book for free to Washington state citizens as a public service.  You may contact our office at www.DavisLawGroupSeattle.com for more information.

Washington State’s “dangerous dog” law imposes penalties of up to 5 years in jail and/or up to $5,000 in fines. The statute is rarely used by prosecutors because they have to show that the dog owner had prior knowledge that the dog was dangerous or potentially dangerous as defined under the statute. Essentially, the dog owner must have knowledge that the dog either attacked and inflicted serious injury on another human being, or injured a domestic animal and had previously acted in menacing ways towards humans. The law is codified at RCW 16.08.

In addition to criminal prosecution, the dog owner may be subject to civil liability for damages suffered by the victim. See RCW 16.08.040. There are essentially three theories under which to pursue such a claim: the dog bite statute, common law strict liability, and simple negligence. All three of these causes of action can be pled in the same action. The laws surrounding these claims can be complex and complicated to pursue. Dog bite victims who have suffered serious injuries should in most cases consult with an experienced dog bite lawyer in Washington State.