A Circuit Court judge has refused to approve the settlement of compensation for a dog bite proposed for a nine-year-old girl bitten on the face by a neighbour´s dog.
The little girl – Amy Shortle of Donabate, County Dublin – had been playing with children of neighbours Thomas Tol and Tracey Lynch when, in December 2011, she bent down to change her shoes and was bitten by the family´s Spaniel.
Amy suffered a laceration on the left side of her face and two more on the right side which needed twenty stitches when the family took her to hospital. Amy´s doctors believe that she may require laser treatment in the future to prevent permanent scarring.
Amy´s parents agreed a settlement of compensation for a dog bite with the owners of the dog but, at the Circuit Civil Court in Dublin, Judge Mr Justice Raymond Groarke refused to approve the settlement on the grounds that Amy was still experiencing ongoing discomfort from the injury and there was the potential requirement for more treatment in the future.
Judge Groake adjourned the proceedings for further negotiations between the two parties.
Footnote: All settlements of personal injury claims for children in Ireland must be approved by a judge before they can be resolved. Judge Groake was perfectly within his remit not to approve the settlement of compensation for a dog bite in this case, as Amy parents would be liable for any treatment costs should the revision of Amy´s scars through plastic surgery amount to more than the value of the settlement.