The parents of a seven-year-old girl who was bitten in the face by a dog at a ski shop in East Brainerd have filed suit in Circuit Court.
Matt and Jenny Hullander are suing Steve and Donna McClendon Gilbert and Dodge City Ski Shop and Dodge City Liquors at 7868 E. Brainerd Road.
The suit asks $325,000 in compensatory damages plus unspecified punitive damages.
The parents said they visited the ski shop with their daughter on Dec. 29, 2012, and upon entering the premises noticed a dog inside.
The Hullanders said they asked if their daughter could pet the male cocker spaniel named Charlie Brown.
The suit says Steve Gilbert gave permission for her to pet the dog and said it "would be fine to pet the dog."
It says the dog "suddenly jumped up and viciously attacked plaintiff by biting and grabbing the then-7-year-old in the face, and began chewing on her face."
The suit says the child "suffered excruciating pain, trauma, and fear for her life during the dog attack."
It says the attack caused her to bleed from the face and caused extensive damage to her lip, gums, inner and outer mouth area, chin and face with deep facial lacerations.
The suit says it is believed that a store alarm went off immediately before the attack by the dog.
The child had to be rushed to a hospital for facial plastic reconstructive surgery, it was stated. Physicians said she may need more plastic surgery in the future.
The suit was filed by attorneys David McDowell and Justin Faith.