A dog bite injury usually comes to mind when hearing news about an animal bite lawsuit. But that there may be many types of animal bites underlying court actions in Kentucky and across the U.S. For example, a woman is suing Las Vegas entertainer Wayne Newton for injuries suffered by her daughter during an invited tour of Newton’s mansion in 2017.
Her daughter, then 15 years-old, received emergency room treatment for a bite to her right wrist that was allegedly made by Newton’s capuchin monkey named Boo. They claim that Boo attacked the girl without any provocation during a tour of Newton’s extravagant estate, Casa de Shenandoah. The plaintiffs also charged that the monkey was not in a cage or on a leash during the tour.
The girl had to undergo subsequent medical treatment and counseling, according to their lawyer. She also still has a scar from that bite.
Newton’s estate is an extravagant 40-acre property located southeast of the Las Vegas Strip. The walled compound includes several homes, pools, stables and several exotic animals such as flamingos, penguins and a sloth. Newton and his family lived there for over 40 years and moved to another home in 2013.
The residence was sold in 2010 to investors who opened a tourist attraction. The investors are also named as defendants in the lawsuit.
The civil negligence complaint was filed earlier this month in Nevada state court in Las Vegas. The victim’s mother is seeking at least $15,000 in damages on her daughter’s behalf. Newton’s wife said that the family business ended ties with the Casa de Shenandoah estate in October 2017.
Victims of an animal bite injury in Kentucky may also be entitled to compensation against a pet owner in more normal circumstances. An attorney can gather evidence and pursue this right in a lawsuit.