FPL Worker Who Lost Ear In Dog Attack Reaches Settlement

4 Pit Bulls Jump Fence, Pounce On Woman

April 29,2004

VIERA, Fla. -- A Florida Power & Light Co. meter reader who was mauled by pit bulls last year has reached a settlement in her negligence case and will get nearly $1 million, according to court records.

Four pit bulls jumped a fence and attacked 20-year FPL employee Carol Dennison in June 2003. During the attack, Dennison suffered major head lacerations, lost an ear and part of her scalp during the attack.

The dogs -- Bowser, Bindy, Blade and Chloe -- were declared dangerous by the courts in December, Local 6 News partner Florida Today reported. They remain impounded at the Brevard County Animal Services Center on Sarno Road in Melbourne pending a circuit court appeal by their owner, David Tueche, said Capt. David Polomski of Brevard County Animal Services.

The million-dollar verdict reached this week is against the property owner, Robert A. Shiffrar and property management company Penn Properties Inc., and not Tueche, according to court records. Tueche was originally named in Dennison's suit, but was dropped in March because he had no insurance.