Judge orders U. to pay $53,000 in dog attack suit
Lisa Hanold, a former student at Harcum Junior College in Bryn Mawr, filed suit in conjunction with her parents in April 1988. Hanold said she was attacked by the dog while participating in a Harcum Animal Health Technology course held at VHUP. A federal court jury under Judge Jay Buckwalter ruled that the University was negligent and ordered it to pay $50,000 in compensatory damages to Hanold and $3000 in medical damages to Hanold's parents. She received permanent scarring on her face and neck due to the injuries. The suit named both Harcum and the University as defendents. Although both were found negligent, the University was ordered to pay the entire amount because the jurors decided its negligence caused the attack. "They were both negligent," said Susan Claypoole, Hanold's attorney. "They both failed in their duties, but only Penn legally caused the injuries." Donna Friedel, the University's attorney, said yesterday that the University will file a post-trial motion seeking reversal of the ruling. The University will ask Judge Buckwalter to overrule the jury. "The judgment wasn't supported by expert evidence," Friedel said yesterday. Claypoole said yesterday that she was pleased with the verdict. "The case had the potential to go either way," Claypoole said. "Their defense was that she had assumed the risk of injuries. If the jury had concurred it would have gone the other way." Claypoole said that Hanold was also pleased with the judgment. "Lisa is satisfied by the money," Claypoole said. "But she feels its more important that both of the defendents were found negligent." Claypoole added that the initial medical expenses were around $2000. "If they had just paid initially this probably would not have come to trial," said Claypoole. Ron Jasner, supervisor for Claims Risk Management for the University, said that he thought the verdict was unfair. "It was against the great weight of the evidence," Jasner said. "The jury did not act on the evidence, she was just a sympathetic plaintiff."