Jogger Attacked By Rottweilers Suing St. Charles Couple: Lawsuit

ST. CHARLES, IL — A St. Charles woman who claims she was nearly killed by two Rottweilers owned by a local couple is suing the dog owners about a month after she was attacked while jogging.

In a lawsuit filed in early January, Laura Kizman is suing Steven and Ann Dorando, also of St. Charles, for failing to take proper precautions to control their dogs, according to a news release announcing the lawsuit. Kizman is seeking damages against the couple in excess of the jurisdictional limits of the Circuit Court of Kane County plus court costs and for other any other relief the court deems just, the suit states.

The suit states that the two dogs were in the couple’s front yard when they suddenly charged at Kizman, who was out jogging on Dec. 13. Kizman, 51, was attacked by the two dogs, which had her by the leg and scalp and were “using her like a chew toy,” the news release from the Cavanagh Law Group alleges.

The suit states that Kizman would have been killed except that a nearby homeowner — who has a concealed carry license — fired a shot at the dogs, killing one. The release said that the sound of gunfire caused the other dog to release its grip on Kizman.

“If he had not acted then, I would have been killed,” Kizman said in the release issued on Tuesday. “I kept telling myself to hold on and stay conscious for my kids and my husband, but I thought I was going to die. The pain was so intense.”

The lawsuit states that two people, including one of the owners and a man driving by in his car who saw the attack, tried unsuccessfully to get the dogs off Kizman. The attack lasted almost 10 minutes and only ended when the gunshot was fired.

The complaint filed on Tuesday contends that the Dorandos violated the State of Illinois Animal Control Act. The law states that if a dog or other animal, without provocation, attacks and injures any person who is peacefully conducting themselves in a place where he or she may lawfully be, the owner of the dog is liable in civil damages for the injuries suffered as a result of the attack.

Following the attack, Kizman was taken to Delnor Hospital and later flown by air ambulance to the trauma center at Good Samaritan Hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery. The release said doctors had to use 6 feet worth of sutures to repair Kizman’s body. Kizman spent nearly a month in the hospital.

She had severe wounds on both legs, her arm and head, her attorney said. She continues to do intense physical therapy, uses a walker to get around and may need additional surgeries.

“The physical and emotional injuries Laura suffered from this horrific attack were extremely severe. Her very difficult recovery still continues and she will deal with lasting injuries from this for the rest of her life,” Kizman’s attorney, Timothy J. Cavanagh, said in the release. “This attack would not have happened if the Dornados had been responsible dog owners. They were aware their dogs could be dangerous, yet they did not take proper precautions to restrain or train the dogs so they would not go after people.”