Man Mauled By Support Dog On Flight, Sues Delta Air Lines

ATLANTA, GA — An Atlanta man who was mauled by an emotional support dog has filed a lawsuit against Delta Air Lines and the dog’s owner for negligence, claiming the dog wasn’t correctly vetted before being allowed on the plane.

On a flight from Atlanta to San Diego, Marlin Jackson was seated by the window, and the dog's owner, Ronald Kevin Mundy Jr. of Mills River, North Carolina, was in the middle seat. Suddenly, for some unknown reason, the dog attacked Jackson. Mundy's dog reportedly pinned Jackson against the window and bit his face.

According to the lawsuit filed in Fulton County, the animal broke free from the owner’s grip and mauled Jackson’s face.

“The attacks caused extensive facial damage including deep lacerations and punctures to the nose and mouth,” according to the lawsuit. “In fact, Mr. Jackson bled so profusely that the entire row of seats had to be removed from the airplane.”

The lawsuit, which does not mention an amount being sued for, goes on to include the injuries Jackson suffered: a total of 28 stitches to his face and upper body, as well as the loss of sensation to the affected areas of his face.

Marine veteran Mundy, said “the dog was issued to him for support,” according to Jackson's attorneys, J. Ross Massey and Graham P. Roberts.

The lawsuit says, "Delta failed to require a kennel for the large animal and/or failed to verify that the large animal, allegedly an emotional support animal, was trained and met the same requirements as a service animal. Prior to subjecting the large animal to the foreseeably dangerous confines of a crowded airplane, Defendant Mundy failed to act reasonably, consistent with the standard of ordinary care, to prevent harm to his fellow passengers, including Mr. Jackson."

A spokesperson for Delta Air Lines said the company doesn’t comment on pending litigation, shared a statement and pointed Patch to the airline's service and support animal policies.

The statement reads:

"Delta continuously reviews and enhances its policies and procedures for animals onboard as part of its commitment to health, safety and protecting the rights of customers with disabilities. In 2018, Delta tightened its policies on emotional support animals by requiring a “confirmation of animal training” form as well as other official documentation. The airline also banned pit bulls and animals under four months of age as service or support animals. These policy updates reinforce Delta’s core value of putting safety first, always."

The service and support animal policy states:

“We know that both types of animals [trained service animals and emotional support animals] provide invaluable services and we welcome both on our flights. To travel with an emotional support or psychiatric service animal, passengers must upload the required documentation at least 48 hours before a flight. For questions, call 404-209-3434. Advanced notice is encouraged but not required for customers traveling with trained service animals.

"Please be advised that our service and support animal policy is changing. Effective July 10, 2018, each customer will be limited to one emotional support animal. Additionally, we are no longer accepting pit bull type dogs as service or support animals."

SEE ALSO: Support Dog Mauls Passenger On Delta Flight