If I got bitten by
somebody's vicious dog...
That's a traumatic event.
We had an agreement that she signed.
It says this agreement
settles a dog bite.
Why did you sign this?
I was very high on narcotics
coming out of the hospital.
I do not remember signing this.
This
is Judy Justice.
Previously on Judy Justice...
She wasn't trespassing in your house madam.
She wasn't burglarizing your house.
- She was bitten by your pit bull. - Right but...
That's what the case is about. - She was told not to go into my house.
If I believe you.
Now I'm gonna look
at your video.
You got it.
Oh my god.
Oh god!
I'm so sorry!
She even said it was her fault.
It wasn't her fault. It was your fault.
- You have the dangerous animal. - How is it...
How is it my fault?
I told her not to go into my house Don't ask me.
Don't ask me any questions, madam.
And now the conclusion.
Myla Bazen is suing
her former employer, Sarah Adams,
for lost wages and pain and suffering
after being bit
by Sarah's pit bull.
Okay. My issue actually is,
in addition to everything else,
why would a seemingly smart woman,
have a dog that she would
have to warn people about
to come to her front door?
Why? I say to myself, "Why?" I don't understand that.
And when I was preparing for this case today,
looking at the complaint and looking at the answer, I--
I could do a little multitasking--
I was reading the newspaper.
This is today.
A 7-year-old Louisiana girl was mauled to death
by a neighbor's pit bull
after it ran into her family yard.
The name of the person is here, was a child,
was "playing outside her East Baton Rouge Parish home
Friday, when the dog barreled onto the property and viciously attacked her.
A family member tried to stop the dog by
hitting it with a walking cane,
but the animal couldn't be deterred.
First-grader suffered multiple bites to her face and severe skull damage.
She died.
The dog was euthanized.
The dog's owner told the officers he wasn't home during the attack
and regularly lets the dog roam the neighborhood.
He was charged Saturday with homicide.
Yeah.
Perfect!
Perfect. I would go right from
charge to execution.
I also have proof
that another lady down the street was bitten by it.
Just... I'm gonna get to you. I'm not finished.
I'm not finished. I don't understand. I have others.
I have others, cause it looks like-- you look like...
Dog-sitting mom killed by pit bulls.
North Carolina woman was mauled to death
by two pit bulls she was dog-sitting for
after the mother warned her to stop watching the animals,
according to reports.
That's all.
Husband came home and found her in the backyard being eaten by
two pit bulls she was watching for her son.
I don't understand. I have more.
but I won't bore you with those.
So I don't understand why intelligent people
have a dog that they know is capable of killing somebody.
Of just turning and killing somebody.
I don't understand it.
I think... you know,
insurance companies can--
can legally discriminate against people who have
pit bulls by saying we're not gonna insure you.
And there's a reason for that.
But Your Honor, I told her before she left not to go into my house.
Ah. Ahhh. My dog was outside.
My dog was in my home. Yeah.
Protecting my family... I want you to look--
I want you to look
at the video again.
And unless your daughter is a moron
and can't follow your instructions,
she did not say to her, "Wait outside."
- She saw... - I understand that
Just a second. She saw her.
She was in charge of your home that day.
She permitted her to come in
and put the drink down.
She did that!
- She-- you want to watch the video again? - No.
No, I don't need to watch the video. Good. So you acknowledge it.
So I don't care what you said to her.
When she got there, the circumstances was such
that your daughter--
who is taller than you are--
was very happy to have her come in
instead of saying you're not allowed
to come into my house 'cause we have this vicious dog.
- She's not vicious. - We have...
Oh yes, a dog that--
a dog that bites somebody that's
- coming in with... - She was protecting my children
in my home. Oh, just a second.
I understand what you're saying and I'm saying to you
that she came in
with your daughter within inches from her.
And your daughter,
when she opened the door--
didn't you see the dog?
- Yep! - No, I didn't realize.
What?! You didn't realize? - No.
It happened so fast. When I heard the door, I then realized.
So, I came back to rush
to stop Myla, but she already got bit. It was too late.
So, it is my fault.
Right!
I love that.
It's too bad you can't teach that to your mother.
It really is too bad
you can't teach your mother to say, "It's my fault."
I have a dog that can be vicious.
And so far the dog has not been vicious to my children."
I hope for your sake,
and your brother's sake
that one day the dog doesn't get annoyed with one of your brothers.
I just hope. I mean,
this lady was about your size. The one that was killed by the two pit bulls.
An older lady.
So, I'm hoping. Your mother chooses
to have that instead of double locks
taking care of her children? Great!
But then she has to pay the consequences.
I mean, I have to tell you
I'm old. I'm very old.
I'm probably the oldest person that you know.
I have never read
one article
where a Shih Tzu killed a person.
That's why I have Shih Tzus.
You have chihuahuas?
- Yes. - I have never heard about
a chihuahua killing a person
Ever!
Myla Bazen claims
her former employer, Sarah Adams,
owes for injuries after being bit
by Sarah's dog. Sarah says
Myla accepted a $300 settlement
from the incident.
Now. May I see
the note that you had from the previous neighbor.
Yeah. So this is a text message
from Sarah to me stating that
- the neighbor down... - Ah don't-- don't. I can read.
Okay. - Nobody can state here.
Okay.
What was the name of the other woman that got bit by your dog?
Your Honor, it was my neighbor and...
Just a second! I asked you for a name!
Did she get bitten anywhere around this time?
No.
What year?
It was 2020,
and it was a dog fight that me and her were
both trying to break up.
Just a second.
It was 2020.
2021, excuse me. Okay.
She is my neighbor. Just a...
Just a second. So,
a year before-- when in 2021? Give me a month.
I don't remember. Summer, fall,
winter, spring. - Fall.
It was fall. Fall.
So you're talking about September or October?
Somewhere around there, yes.
Was she treated for the dog bite?
No, your Honor. It was...
...not severe. Just a second.
The answer is no. She was
not treated for her dog bite.
- Not seen by anybody. - Correct.
Okay. Can I see photographs
of the dog bite, please?
Sure thing. I also
have the first initial appearance
that went to the hospital.
Now you can step back up. I have another question for you.
Now, you were there. I heard you
say from inside, "Oh, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."
- Is that right? - Yes.
Yeah. At least twice.
Now after this happened,
- what did the plaintiff do? - She called me...
Don't!
After this happened,
just you and your two younger brothers were home.
What did the plaintiff do? She was sitting outside
on the porch.
We came, and I gave her some towels. Who's we?
My brother.
So you got some towels. I saw
she asked you for some towels. Mm-hmm.
And then we tried to give her some bandaids.
Put the paper down. You're annoying me.
Umm, she said, "Just let me come in." So, I put away the dog.
She said what?!
"Just let me come in."
So I put away the dog.
And I put her...
she was in my mom's bathroom, and we were finding bandaids and rinsing it off.
And then she came to... I didn't ask you a question.
She's in your mother's bathroom. She's trying to clean it up,
and you put the dog where?
We have kennels for them. Cages.
In kennels? Mm-hmm.
Okay. You have kennels for them that you put them in what time of day?
Or when anybody is coming over?
When do you use the kennels?
Uhh, we use them when we leave,
or about to leave, or if somebody is coming over they haven't met.
Now, you knew that the plaintiff was coming over.
Your mother had told you the plaintiff was coming over.
Yes. Okay.
And did your mother tell you when-- that phone conversation
would ordinarily ask,
because I know-- I live with people your age and some a little bit older--
"When is McDonald's going to be here?"
"When is it going to be here?"
- Did you ask your mother that question? - No.
Did she give you any indication about how long it would take?
- No. - How did you know
when plaintiff arrived?
The car pulled up.
- So you were looking outside for the car? - Yes.
Great.
And when you were looking
outside for the car, you knew the food had arrived.
- Yeah. - You went outside.
Yes. I closed the door right behind me.
Of course.
You closed the door behind you. You went and got the food.
There was extra food.
She was clearly following you,
and you clearly saw that she following you into the house.
- No. - Well, by the time
you got to the front door-- you want to see it again?
You turned around
and saw she was there behind you.
That's when... when I went into the house...
No, no no, no, no, right before.
Right before.
Play it again, Sam.
She is now out of the car.
You're calling your brothers.
What?
Turn around, you look at her and smile. Say nothing.
She walks in.
You say nothing to her.
Oh god!
I am so sorry
Got it. Don't say "Don't come in here."
"Don't come in, just leave it outside."
You're both smiling.
Smiling.
I am so sorry
You wanna see it again?
No, you were both smiling when you walked in.
Play it again, Sam!
What?
You got it?
Oh god!
Okay. Thank you.
Got it?
- Got it? - Yeah.
Okay. Very good.
Ms. Bazen, quite frankly,
the only thing that's distressing to me
about your complaint
is that you're only suing her for $3,500.
- That was... - That's the only thing
that is... As far as I'm concerned,
you could've just as easily been really seriously injured.
And to me, people who keep-- will keep an aggressive dog--
that's an aggressive dog--
at home for whatever reason,
especially a breed that has been determined to be
a potentially dangerous breed of animal,
deserves any consequences.
This guy-- this 20-year-old idiot-- is going to jail!
If I was sentencing him,
he would go to jail for a very long time
as an example!
Maybe you have to set examples for people
who allow innocent people
to get killed because they like a particular breed of dog.
I mean, I have to tell you.
I'm old. I'm very old.
I'm probably the oldest person that you know.
I have never read one article
where a Shih Tzu killed a person.
That's why I have Shih Tzus.
I've never heard...
I've heard them-- ah, they bit my finger, maybe.
You know, they rip my stockings.
They ate the furniture leg.
But I've never read a piece--
You have Chihuahuas?
You have a Chihuahua?
- Yes. - I've never heard about
a Chihuahua killing a person.
Ever!
Ever. So if you're dumb enough to have a dog...
you have to accept the consequences.
This guy is going to accept the consequences
for his stupidity for letting his
pit bull roam around
by going to jail.
And you will accept the consequences by
paying the exact amount that she is requesting which is $3,500.
Your counterclaim is stupid!
And it's dismissed and I'm... Your Honor.
...done with you. Your Honor, we had...
I'm done with you. - ...an agreement that she signed.
I'm done with you.
We had an agreement that she signed.
I was very high on narcotics and coming under
the influence of coming out of the hospital.
I do not remember signing this.
And if it was, it was for her to make me feel better
because of what had happened.
I'm sorry, Ms. Bazen, but that's not going to fly with me.
Defendant, Sarah Adams, is accusing
her former employee, Myla Bazen,
of harrassment after her dog bit Myla.
Myla claims she did not agree to Sarah's $300 settlement.
We had an agreement that she signed.
She signed the agreement... Just a sec.
for $300 and we were done!
Okay, I'd like to see that.
Please. - If she...
On top of that, the next day she came back
into my house to meet the dog...
- I don't care. I don't care. - ...that bit her.
You made me... [voices overlap].
Made me meet the dog.
- Because she got bit. - Why would you bring that
She, she, she picked at it. I have all these evidence that she picked at it.
And that's what it turned into because she didn't take care of it.
I have to tell you I don't care
whether she took care of it or whether it got infected.
If I got bitten by somebody's vicious dog,
I don't care whether it got infected or not.
That's a traumatic event.
Only reason I was suing for... But it's just-- just a second.
But if you signed a release to her... She did.
...that's a different story. No, it isn't.
She signed that paper. Shhh, don't!
Why did you sign this?
This is clear. First, she-- Kevin.
Can I see it, please?
And when is it dated on?
Well, it says this agreement settles a dog bite that happened on 7/18.
This was signed... Shhh!
in October or November Shhhh!
If you shout out again...
Because I was missing, um,
all my money. I was not getting paid. I needed something from her.
- I came from the hospital. - What do you-- I don't understand.
What do you mean you weren't getting-- here.
Is there a date on this?
And do have other things that
she signed if you need to verify the signature.
I was very high on narcotics,
coming under the influence of coming out of the hospital.
I do not remember signing this.
And if it was, it was for her to make me feel better
because of what had happened.
I'm sorry, Ms. Bazen, that's not going to fly with me.
- Well... - It's not going to fly with me.
- If you accepted the $300... - No. I didn't.
Shhh!
Pay careful attention to what I'm saying before you answer.
If you and the defendant in any action
can at any time-- even without a lawyer--
neither of you have a lawyer--
shhh! I'm speaking--
...can settle a claim--
if they wish--
to settle a claim before getting the courts involved.
Mm-hmm. That can happen.
And that should happen in many instances.
I'm not quite sure of this one,
but it certainly should happen more often than not.
You settled for less than what you were entitled to.
You settled for $300.
Did she give you $300?
- No, Your Honor. - May I see that document, please?
She did not.
Okay.
- Let's see whether she... - Also referring to a car battery...
No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Let's not get ahead of ourselves.
"I agree to give Myla $300."
- Did she give it to you? - No.
Show me that you gave it to her.
- And when. - I gave her cash.
It's on camera at work. I handed her at work with my boss there.
My boss-- you can call him right now...
- I'm not calling. - ...he will corroborate it.
Listen to me. I'm not calling your boss.
That's your problem to prove it.
I also helped her
- when her car broke down. - I don't care.
- Paid for a battery. - I don't care.
- I paid for Lyft rides for her. - Listen to me.
- I don't care. - Your dog bit me.
Shhhhh! I don't care.
All I want to see is
- proof that you handed her... - I gave
- her cash. - ...$300. $300.
I don't have proof, 'cause I gave her cash.
Well, that's a problem for you.
- Did she give you cash? - Your Honor, no.
- She helped me out with the car battery. - Why would you sign that then?
Just a sec.
- It doesn't say you gave her $300. - Your Honor, she's lying.
It says "I agree to give her..."
She's lying. I handed her $300
and made her-- and had her sign that.
At work.
We did it at work.
- She's lying. - And she threatened me.
Then I'm going to give this to you.
She says you didn't give her the $300.
You have no proof that you gave her the $300.
- You have no proof. - I don't. I don't.
You don't have any proof. $3,500.
Judgment for the plaintiff. We're done.
This court is adjourned.
I feel like if it would've been a Shih Tzu that bit her and did that damage,
I feel like the judge would've favored--
would have gone in my favor.
And I knew I would get justice coming here for pit bulls.
She takes care of the community, and I'm so glad that happened that way.
I had a lot of evidence, and the reason why her bite
turned into what it looks like now
is because she didn't take care of it. She picked at it.
I was happy to bring the kids food. I'm that type of person.
Because I have documentation of her
picking at it. She went to the hospital four different occasions.
Pretty traumatizing.
I know she was fine because I have text messages
that prove she was fine.
And all of sudden the dog just got me.
And that it was her fault and she knew better than to go into the house.
Right when I walked in, the dog lynched and grabbed my leg.
I walked in and then I realized there was a voice behind me.
I... I went back
and saw that Myla was back and she got bit by that time.
So I went to go help her.
Locked its jaw.
Her first tooth went really far down deep.
Me and baby girl both had to hit the dog
to get him off of me.
I picked up the dog and I put her back in her kennel.
Very terrifying. I still have PTSD.
Even watching that video was shocking.
She was constantly complaining about the dog bite
to myself, my boss, slandering me at every chance that she got.
Absolutely ridiculous!
And I said, "Myla, look, this needs to be settled once and for all."
Bullied me and put me in a position, cornered me, and made me
do what she wanted to do. She was my boss, so...
whatever she said, I had to do.
What do you want? She's like, "Give me $300 and I'll sign something
saying we're done." So that's what I did.
I don't know. Some people are different.
So I just wanted to
point out a distinction in the articles that you brought in,
and I know you've been hearing these pitbull cases for decades,
so I understand your outrage every time you see one.
But the distinctions in the news articles
that you brought in today as examples
as well as this case,
there are a couple key differences. One, the main one, being
in the newspaper articles
the dogs were outside.
Outside the home, outside the control.
And in this case, the defendant wanted to make it especially known
that the dog never left her home.
However, from a legal standpoint,
it's a more egregious charge
if you allow your dangerous animal out and about in society
without any sort of warning.
However, just because it's inside your home,
doesn't absolve you from that responsibility.
The plaintiff was still an invitee into the home.
Like you had said, the daughter had every opportunity from
the street all the way up the sidewalk,
all the way on to the porch,
and even into the screen door that you can see on the video opened up.
Never once said, "Oh, just wait outside."
- Even with my own dogs. - Or put the...
Or put the... or leave the food on the porch.
Even with my own dogs, golden retrievers.
Sometimes I never know if they're gonna be overexcited.
I say, "Hang on one sec out here. Let me make sure they're good."
And I make sure they're happy, whatever, and then I say "Come on in."
So she had every opportunity to do that
and she didn't. So, like you mentioned to her,
it's not like the plaintiff was a trespasser or trying to steal
or trying to harm her children.
And you're still responsible for your dangerous animals even
- if they're inside your home. - Yeah.
So I just think that's a word to the wise.
It's not just when they are outside your control
that you can be held liable.
I thought it was also interesting, now that I think about it
and listen to what you're saying--
Usually when you have a dog that you know is dangerous because...
Let us assume that I believed
her when she said, you know, "I said don't go into the house,"
which I don't believe her.
You usually have a sign if you live
in a private house and you're using the dog for protection.
To have a sign--
"dangerous dog"...
- "Beware of dog." - "Beware of dog."
Because somebody may come and deliver a package...
- Mm-hmm. - ...open your screen door.
you never know when something is gonna happen.
So you at least give the public notice...
- Mm-hmm. - ...that there is a potentially
a vicious animal inside. You're absolutely right.
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