PITTSBURGH - A man allegedly attacked by a dog in a pub parking lot filed a lawsuit against the handler, a McKeesport sergeant, in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County.
Jay R. Bartrug, Jr. sued Francis A. Angert, the City of McKeesport and the McKeesport Police Department in July. He was allegedly attacked by a German Shepherd, Ryco, a member of the police department’s K-9 unit. Angert is believed to be the primary caregiver for the dog.
At the night of the incident, Bartrug was leaving Mellon’s Pub out of the side door and Ryco allegedly jumped on him “in a menacing and aggressive manner and at a high rate of speed,” according to the lawsuit. Ryco bit his upper arm and abdomen, but Bartrug was able to get away without getting hurt any further, he said.
“As a direct and proximate result of the joint, several, and combined negligence, carelessness, and/or recklessness of all defendants in this matter, plaintiff was caused to suffer and sustain serious and severe injuries, some or all of which may be permanent in nature,” Bartrug said in the suit.
The injuries include pain and soreness on his left bicep and left abdomen, laceration and bruising, tenderness and weakness, and a strain in his muscles, shock to the nervous system and other injuries, the lawsuit said.
He said the defendants were negligent in allowing the dog to roam around without a leash or without use of any other methods to keep it contained in public. He added the defendants didn’t keep him safe from the dog and allowed it to attack him.
"The injuries and damages suffered by plaintiff were further caused by and were the direct and proximate result of Sergeant Angert’s actions in violating the confinement of dogs portion of the Pennsylvania Dog Law, also known as the ‘leash law,’ which violation directly led to and caused the serious and severe injuries to plaintiff for which Sergeant Angert is strictly liable,” Bartrug said in the lawsuit.
He asked for judgment in his favor along with court costs and other fees the court deems proper.