Decherd, TN $8 million lawsuit filed in dog mauling death

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$8 million lawsuit filed in Decherd dog mauling death


An $8 million lawsuit has been filed in Franklin County Circuit Court in connection with last year’s dog mauling death of a Decherd woman.

According to court documents, Dennis Acklen filed the suit against Ephraim Gammada and his wife Elizabeth in connection with the May 6, 2006, death of his wife Dianna Acklen who was killed by dogs as she walked along Knights Church Road near Decherd.

The suit alleges that the Gammadas "knew or should have known that their dogs had a dangerous predisposition," and that despite this knowledge they "failed to take adequate precautions to restrain their dogs."

The suit then alleges that as a result of the Gammadas’ "failure to take adequate precautions to restrain their dogs, the dogs did viciously attack and bite repeatedly Dianna Acklen." The suit also claims that Mrs. Acklen died from her injuries sustained in the attack.

The suit alleges that as the result of the attack and death of Mrs. Acklen, Mr. Acklen has incurred expenses and has "suffered and continues to suffer great emotional pain and anguish due to the nature of her death, and as a result of having to endure the loss of his loving wife of many years."

The suit charges that the Gammadas are "guilty of common law negligence and should be held liable for the injuries that the dogs have caused Dennis Acklen."

The suit requests that Acklen be awarded $3 million in compensatory damages and $5 million for punitive damages plus cost and expenses that have been incurred.

Winchester Attorney Mark Stewart represents Acklen.

When contacted Thursday, Gammada declined comment and referred calls
to his attorney Bobby Carter, who had not returned calls later Thursday.
http://www.tullahomanews.com/news/view_ ... ticle=4857


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