Woman sues pit bull owner

Tuesday, April 6, 2004 | 9:50 a.m.

A woman whose toy poodle was killed by a pit bull in December filed a lawsuit Friday seeking about $100,000 from the pit bull's owner and his homeowner's insurance company.

Sharon Selep, 57, is suing Ruddy Gibbs for negligence, including failure to restrain his dog, as well as unlawful possession of a vicious animal, and negligent infliction of emotional distress.

Selep's lawyer, Mark Saggese, said she has medical bills from the bites she sustained in the December incident and also is in need of long term counseling after watching her toy poodle Baby "torn to pieces" by the pit bull.

"The woman is psychology damaged, in my opinion, for life," Saggese said. "She doesn't even want to leave the house she's so afraid."

Witnesses say Gibbs' pit bull, Coby, went on a "rampage" the afternoon of Dec. 28, 2003, when it escaped from the back yard of Gibbs' home in the 8000 block of Lisa Dawn Avenue, near Buffalo Drive and Flamingo Road.

Coby seriously wounded a cocker spaniel before turning the corner and attacking Sharon Selep, 57, and her toy poodle. The pit bull knocked Selep down, biting her hands, before it turned on Baby and killed the little dog. Gibbs, who also faces criminal misdemeanor charges for possession of a dangerous animal and for failure to restrain a dangerous animal, voluntarily had the pit bull euthanized and paid some of the veterinarian expenses for both the cocker spaniel and Selep's toy poodle.

Saggese said his client only filed suit because settlement discussions with Gibb's insurance failed. Saggese and Selep also said they hope the lawsuit will make other dog owners take greater precautions to restrain their animals.

Selep is currently working with Sen. Dennis Nolan, R-Las Vegas, and Assemblywoman Valerie Weber, R-Las Vegas, to strengthen Nevada's animal control laws.