NEWPORT (WATE) - A Cocke County family is suing their former neighbors and the neighbors' landlord for $1.5 million after dogs attacked the family's child.
The family of Brandon Williams filed the suit in Cocke County Circuit Court on August 3.
It names the Williams' former neighbors on Branch Road, Anthony Lugar and Jennifer Switzer, as defendants along with the couple's landlord, Michelle Schemel.
At age 10, Brandon was attacked on August 3, 2011 when he delivered a package to Lugar and Switzer's house after it was dropped off at his house by mistake. A pack of dogs including a pit bull owned by the couple attacked Brandon after he gave the package to Switzer.
The dogs tore off Brandon's ears, severed tendons in his arm, damaged his muscles and left him with broken bones.
The lawsuit says Brandon will require special medical care for the rest of his life because of the injuries he sustained. Surgeons were unable to reattach his ears. However, at Shriners Hospital in Cincinnati, surgeons have discussed reconstructing his ears or using prosthetics in the future.
Brandon currently undergoes physical therapy to regain the use of his arm, fingers and legs.
The lawsuit says Switzer and Lugar knew their pit bull had bitten people in the past.
The Williams family is seeking $500,000 in compensatory damages and $1,000,000 in punitive damages.
Switzer and Lugar are serving two years of supervised probation after pleading guilty to allowing animals to run at large, causing serious bodily injury.
Brandon and his father recently received a new home, built through a community effort. His mother, Christy Williams, died of lupus in March.
