Judge grants $150,000 judgment after Clayton County dog-bite damages hearing

Judge Tammy Long Hayward awarded $150,000 plus court costs on Feb. 11 after hearing testimony and documentary proof in Fizito Chancey v. Cedric Hudson.

The courtroom heard photographic and certified records evidence admitted as exhibits, and Chancey testified that three dogs attacked him while he was walking past the property, causing multiple bites to his right leg and inner thigh. Plaintiff counsel Joshua Samuels told the court the economic bills and claimed losses totalled roughly $8,847.46 in lost income and several thousand dollars in medical bills, and argued the visceral nature of a multi-dog attack justified a significant non-economic award. "Our ask today in total, economics plus non economic damages, is $150,000," Samuels said during closing argument.

Judge Long Hayward said the physical evidence and testimony supported awarding both economic and non-economic damages. "I don't have a problem granting the amount of $150,000 in this case," the judge said, and directed counsel to submit a proposed judgment and the rule 15 notice required for entry. Hospital records admitted in evidence included an ambulance report and Piedmont Henry facility and radiology billing; the court admitted multiple photos the Clayton County police department had taken at the scene.

The ruling covered the damages phase only; the court recorded that liability and viciousness of the animals had been deemed admitted earlier in the proceeding because the defendant failed to participate in discovery. The judge instructed plaintiff counsel to prepare an order to be signed and entered by the clerk and said the clerk would circulate the judgment to the parties.

The court also heard from the defense attorney for the corporate defendant, which had filed a pro se appearance earlier in the case; defense counsel acknowledged an answer had been filed by a company representative but preserved objections to the damages calculation. The judge explained the record supported the award and that costs and the proposed judgment would be issued promptly.