A harrowing dog attack has led to a lawsuit filed in Sacramento, California. Yharely Denise Iniguez lodged the complaint on March 30, 2024, against Jamison Charlton and Jesse Charlton, seeking justice for the severe injuries she sustained.
According to the court documents, Yharely Iniguez was jogging in the Tahoe Park area of Sacramento on April 20, 2023, when she encountered a teenage girl walking a large Siberian Husky named "Turtle." Despite her efforts to avoid contact by moving to a grassy area adjacent to the sidewalk, Turtle lunged at her and bit her left thigh and buttock. The attack resulted in five moderate to severe puncture wounds. Iniguez immediately sought medical attention at UC Davis Medical Center and later required extensive treatment, including surgery and ongoing wound care.
The plaintiff's case hinges on two primary accusations: violation of Civil Code §3342 and negligence. Civil Code §3342 is a strict liability statute that holds dog owners liable for damages if their dog bites someone in a public place or lawfully in a private place. The complaint states that "the owner of any dog is liable for the damages suffered by any person who is bitten by the dog while in a public place or lawfully in a private place." Iniguez argues that she was legally entitled to be where she was at the time of the attack and did not provoke Turtle.
The negligence claim asserts that the defendants failed to act with reasonable care to prevent foreseeable harm. According to the complaint, Jamison Charlton admitted to Animal Control Officer Cassidy Shoop that Turtle was reactive to people and other dogs when leashed outside. Despite this knowledge, Charlton allowed her minor daughter to walk Turtle unsupervised. The daughter was reportedly distracted by her cell phone at the time of the attack, which Iniguez claims contributed to Turtle's aggressive behavior.
Iniguez's injuries were severe and required multiple medical interventions. After initial treatment at UC Davis Medical Center, she experienced ongoing pain and swelling, leading her primary care physician Dr. Richard Ngo to refer her for ultrasound imaging. The imaging revealed suspicious findings consistent with cellulitis or subcutaneous hemorrhage. Subsequent emergency room visits culminated in surgery performed by Drs. Rachel Hight, Julia Riccardi, and Sarah Singh on May 2, 2023. The surgery involved resecting a hematoma filled with thick viscous brown fluid from her left thigh.
Despite completing acute wound care by July 26, 2023, Iniguez continues to suffer from "electrical shock" type pain at her wound site and has been referred for further palliative and cosmetic care. Dr. Shuhao Zhang recommended treatments costing $30,350 but cautioned that complete symmetry between her thighs might not be achievable due to loss of subcutaneous tissue.
In addition to seeking compensation for medical expenses—both past and future—Iniguez is also pursuing damages for pain and suffering caused by physical pain, mental trauma such as anxiety and depression, permanent disfigurement resulting in psychological trauma and loss of self-esteem.
Representing Yharely Denise Iniguez is attorney Dan Derdowski Esq., while Judge presiding over Case ID 24CV017358 will hear arguments from both sides as they navigate this complex legal battle over accountability and compensation following an unprovoked dog attack.