2024-03-11 23:43:20
The civil trial filed by the victim of a dog attack in Potton in 2019 opened Monday at the Cowansville Courthouse. Dominique Alain and her partner are claiming $675,000 from the municipality, the owner of the dogs and the company owning the land on which the latter lived.
“I’m lucky to be alive, but it’s hard to live with the body I have. I cannot accept it” mentioned Ms. Alain during her testimony which lasted all day.
On March 29, 2019, Dominique Alain was jogging on rue de l’Aéroport when she was brutally attacked by three dogs. The woman who was 55 years old at the time of the attack recalled this moment which changed her life: “They didn’t devour. I thought I was going to die. I said to myself, ‘that’s it, it’s over’.”
Allan Barnes, owner of the three dogs who have since been euthanized, was found guilty of criminal negligence causing harm and sentenced to six months in prison. According to the lawsuit, the municipality of Potton received numerous complaints regarding these animals, but did not act to ensure the safety of the population.
Today, the victim is demanding compensation for the consequences she still suffers today. “I lost the quality of life I had before. I have to learn to redefine myself as a person. It’s difficult,” she said.
Dominique Alain told the Court that before this day that changed her life, she worked 40 hours a week as an accountant for a company that designs sports glasses. She also served as a tennis official in American collegiate competitions.
With the physical and psychological following-effects that still affect her, Ms. Alain says she is not able to work more than 10 or 15 hours per week.
The prosecution will call 13 witnesses during this trial. Tuesday, it will be the turn of a doctor as well as Ms. Alain’s partner, Leo Joy.
Alan Barnes and the owner of the land on which he lived, who is also the subject of the suit, will not present a defense.
The municipality of Potton, for its part, should have four defense witnesses heard before Superior Court Judge Sylvain Provencher.
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