Politics
Politics

Second lawsuit filed against Fulton County animal control in mauling

A memorial was placed near where a boy was killed and a girl was injured early in a pit bull attack on their way to school. Logan Braatz and Syari Sanders were walking to a bus stop when they were mauled. Parents of both children have filed suit. AJC FILE PHOTO
A memorial was placed near where a boy was killed and a girl was injured early in a pit bull attack on their way to school. Logan Braatz and Syari Sanders were walking to a bus stop when they were mauled. Parents of both children have filed suit. AJC FILE PHOTO
By Arielle Kass
Feb 2, 2018

The parents of a then-5-year-old girl who was mauled by a dog last year have sued Fulton County's animal control provider.

This is the second lawsuit against LifeLine Animal Project related to the attack, which injured Syrai Sanders and killed 6-year-old Logan Braatz as they were walking to the bus stop Jan. 17, 2017. Sanders lost an ear, and her scalp was torn from her head.

David Zagoria, an attorney representing Sanders and her family, said previously that LifeLine “neglected and ignored” the Southwest Atlanta neighborhood where Braatz and Sanders lived. The suit was filed in DeKalb County State Court Jan. 24.

A spokesperson for LifeLine, Karen Hirsch, said in a statement that the company was "heartbroken" about Logan's death, and extended "thoughts and prayers" to Syrai. But LifeLine denies the allegations in the two lawsuits, Hirsch said.

Friday, Zagoria said LifeLine had taken on the responsibility of keeping residents safe from dogs, but was negligent in doing so. Residents said the company often responded to calls late, or not at all.

About the Author

Arielle Kass covers Gwinnett County for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. She started at the paper in 2010, and has covered business and local government beats around metro Atlanta. Arielle is a graduate of Emory University.

More Stories

Keep Reading

Georgia Lt. Gov. Lester Maddox, angry about an article, burns a copy of The Atlanta Constitution in the state Senate on March 10, 1971, saying the paper did not have the "guts, integrity, manhood or decency" to report the situation accurately. (AJC file)

Credit: AP FILE

‘Fish wrapper’: The AJC’s complicated relationship with Georgia’s political class

How generations of Georgia leaders battled, berated and depended on the AJC.

A viral confrontation and a sudden resignation shake up Georgia GOP

The man behind the vigilante sting operation that apparently netted a teenage GOP official says he has no regrets.

Groups tied to First Liberty accused of campaign finance violations

Two Republican groups linked to the defunct First Liberty Building & Loan likely sought to illegally influence Georgia elections, the State Ethics Commission charged Thursday.

The Latest

Ja’Quon Stembridge, shown here in July at the Henry County Republican Party monthly meeting, recently stepped from his position with the Georgia GOP. (Jenni Girtman for the AJC)

Credit: Jenni Girtman

A viral confrontation and a sudden resignation shake up Georgia GOP

‘Fish wrapper’: The AJC’s complicated relationship with Georgia’s political class

Groups tied to First Liberty accused of campaign finance violations

Featured

Ja’Quon Stembridge, shown here in July at the Henry County Republican Party monthly meeting, recently stepped from his position with the Georgia GOP. (Jenni Girtman for the AJC)

Credit: Jenni Girtman

A viral confrontation and a sudden resignation shake up Georgia GOP

The man behind the vigilante sting operation that apparently netted a teenage GOP official says he has no regrets.

Why the Atlanta school board voted to close and repurpose some schools

Sixteen schools will be repurposed under the APS Forward 2040 plan as enrollment falls and the district seeks better resources for students.

Small-town Georgia DA brings almost as many RICO cases as Fulton’s Fani Willis

Griffin Judicial Circuit has brought 13 RICO indictments since June 2020.