San Antonio Family Sues City After Fatal Dog Attack on Husband

San Antonio Faces Lawsuit Over Fatal Dog Attack

San Antonio, Texas – It’s been a little over a year since a tragic incident shook the neighborhood of Depla Street, and the family of Ramon Najera is seeking justice through a federal lawsuit. The heartbreaking story began on February 24, 2023, when Ramon, in a desperate act of love, tried to save his wife Janie from two aggressive Pitbulls. Tragically, he lost his life during the attack, succumbing to injuries inflicted by the dogs just outside the home of his seamstress.

The lawsuit was officially filed by Ramon’s family attorney, Marion Reilly, on September 9, 2024, against the City of San Antonio and City Attorney Andy Segovia. Reilly claims this situation was a “grievous and preventable tragedy.” She explained that the city had the power to prevent this incident but failed to take the necessary precautions to protect the community.

A Dangerous History

According to the lawsuit, the two Pitbulls had a troubling history. They had been identified as dangerous dogs before and had previously been taken off the streets due to past attacks. The Najera family believes that the city was aware of these dogs’ past behavior and chose to return them to their owners, Christian Moreno and Abilene Schneider. This decision ultimately led to Ramon’s death and Janie’s severe injuries, which required specialized wound care.

Days following the attack, it came to light that the San Antonio Animal Care Services had received numerous complaints about these dogs over two years and had even impounded them previously for other attacks. Additionally, police had been called to the owners’ home over 100 times during that same period for various disturbances, raising concerns about the safety in their neighborhood.

Community Concerns

Stanley Bernstein, another attorney representing the Najera family, voiced his frustration about the city’s response to dangerous animal cases, saying “the city has a habit of failing neighborhoods that already have some issues.” He strongly believes that had this incident occurred in a more affluent part of town, it never would have been allowed to escalate to this level. “Something like this would never, ever have happened on the North Side,” he added. “It wouldn’t stand.”

City’s Response

In response to the lawsuit, the City Attorney’s Office stated that the owners of the pets were responsible for the actions of their dogs. They emphasize that the owners have been found criminally liable for the attack. As of the time of reporting, the city had not yet been served with the lawsuit and plans to investigate the claims further.

Reilly, pointing to the importance of this lawsuit, remarked, “What we can do is we can stop this from happening again, and that’s the hope. If the city does what it’s supposed to do, incidents like this don’t happen.”

A Wife’s Grief

For Janie Najera, the emotional toll of losing her husband of 45 years is incredibly heavy. She has remained silent about the tragic events of that day, but she recently opened up in an interview, sharing the haunting memories she holds onto after the loss of her beloved husband. Her perspective adds depth to this tragic story, highlighting that this lawsuit isn’t just about justice but also about ensuring safety for the entire community.

Janie and her attorneys hope that through this legal action, changes can be made to prevent such a devastating event from happening to anyone else in the future.

The heartbreaking journey of the Najera family continues as they strive for justice in the name of love and loss, hoping to see a safer community for their children and neighbors.