A woman has filed a lawsuit following a traumatic dog attack, seeking justice and compensation for her injuries. Justine Angela De Mayo initiated the complaint on April 9, 2025, in the Superior Court of California, County of Ventura, against Stacie Bunkowske and Vista Del Mar Ranch. The case centers around allegations of strict liability and negligence related to a dog bite incident.
According to the court documents, Justine Angela De Mayo was attacked by a dog owned by the defendants on September 17, 2023. The attack occurred at Vista Del Mar Ranch located at 8567 Happy Camp Road in Moorpark, California. De Mayo claims that she was lawfully present on the property when she was bitten without provocation. The plaintiff alleges that the defendants are strictly liable under Civil Code Section 3342, which holds dog owners accountable for damages caused by their pets regardless of prior knowledge of viciousness.
The complaint outlines three causes of action: strict liability under Civil Code Section 3342, negligence, and strict liability for an animal with known dangerous propensities. De Mayo asserts that the defendants failed to restrain or control their dog adequately and did not provide any warning about its aggressive nature. She further claims that the defendants were aware or should have been aware of the dog's tendency to attack and bite due to its breed's known violent characteristics.
As a result of the attack, De Mayo suffered serious physical injuries along with mental and emotional distress. She is seeking special damages for medical expenses incurred and anticipated future costs related to her injuries. Additionally, she seeks general damages for pain and suffering, as well as lost wages resulting from her inability to work post-attack.
De Mayo is requesting a jury trial to address these grievances and is pursuing several forms of relief from the court. These include compensation for both economic and non-economic damages, interest on any awarded amounts including prejudgment interest, attorney's fees, and other costs associated with bringing the suit forward.
Representing Justine Angela De Mayo is Michael Turner from Dunn, Carpio & Turner law firm based in Santa Monica. The case is filed under Case No.: 2PO2ZSCUPOO41 in front of judges at Ventura Superior Court.