From the Archives: Palmdale Woman Killed after Being Mauled by Pack of Dogs While on Walk in Neighborhood

A case involving a fatal dog attack in Littlerock from nearly 10 years ago is long over and done with, but the horrific events still serve as an important reminder of the dangers of dog attacks in Los Angeles County. In 2013, 63-year-old Palmdale woman and grandmother, Pamela Devitt, was walking in her neighborhood as part of her regular exercise routine, when she met a terrible and unfathomable end. As Devitt was on her neighborhood walking route, only one-eighth of a mile from her own home, she was attacked by a pack of dogs. The attack was brutal, with Devitt suffering a total of approximately 200 puncture wounds from the terrible attack. She did not survive the attack, and died due to a loss of blood as she was on her way to the hospital.

The owner of the dogs that carried out the attack on Devitt and killed her – four pit bulls – were reported to have been guard dogs owned by Alex Donald Jackson. According to the Deputy District Attorney on the case, Jackson kept the pit bulls (as well as a shotgun) for protection, as he was carrying out a “drug operation” at his house. The four pit bulls involved in the attack were found in a locked garage on Jackson’s property, and they had Devitt’s dried blood on them. Four other dogs were also found on Jackson’s property, and they were adopted, while the dogs involved in the fatal mauling were euthanized.

After the horrific killing, Devitt’s surviving husband and two children filed a lawsuit against the Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control, alleging that the Department already knew about the dangerous dogs, but had failed to take the correct steps to impound them and keep the neighborhood safe. In addition, Jackson was criminally charged in the case, as the dogs’ owner, with second-degree murder. In the criminal case, Jackson was ultimately convicted of his charges and he was sentenced in 2014 to 15 years to life in California state prison. In the civil case, Devitt’s family members settled with Los Angeles County for $1.1 million. After the lawsuit, Devitt’s husband moved to Washington State, noting that he could not bear seeing the garden his wife had tended with care “turning brown and withering away,” after her untimely death.

Legal Help for Victims of Dog Bite Attacks in Palmdale

If you or a loved one were seriously injured in a dog bite attack in Palmdale, it is important to learn about your rights and options under California personal injury laws. The experienced Palmdale dog bite lawyers at the Trevino Law Firm help victims of serious dog bites get justice for their injuries and losses against negligent dog owners. There is a limited time to file a claim for compensation in court, so do not hesitate to act. Contact the Trevino Law Firm and speak to a lawyer about your case now.