A Daphne, Alabama man who was
severely injured by a Delta Airlines passenger's emotional support dog
on on Sunday (June 4) night, has obtained legal representation.
The victim, Marlin Termaine Jackson, 44, had his attorney
J. Ross Massey of Alexander Shunnarah & Associates release close-up images
of his facial injuries on Thursday (June 8) afternoon.
The images show a large open wound under Jackson's
right nostril and another open wound running along his right cheek.
Multiple dark scars can also be seen around his eyes and
face.
Initial police reports stated that Jackson was bitten by
a dog owned by, Ronald Kevin Mundy Jr. of Mills River, N.C.
All three were on a Delta Airlines flight
leaving Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta headed to San
Diego that night.
Officials from Delta Airlines said the flight was delayed
as Jackson was transported to a local hospital and Mundy and his dog were
escorted off the plane.
Massey gave a more
extensive narrative of the incident in the statement his legal office released.
According to the statement, Jackson was assigned a window
seat on the left side of the plane. When he approached his aisle Mundy was
sitting in the middle seat with his dog in his lap.
According to witnesses, the approximately 50-pound dog
growled at Jackson soon after he took his seat. The dog continued to act in a
strange manner as Jackson attempted to buckle his seat belt. The growling
increased and the dog lunged for Jackson's face.
The dog began biting Jackson who could not escape due to
his position against the plane's window. The dog was pulled away by Mundy, but
broke free from his grasp and attacked Jackson a second time.
The attacks reportedly lasted 30 seconds and resulted in
profuse bleeding from severe lacerations to Jackson's face. His injuries
included a puncture through his lip and gum. Massey said the injuries required
immediate transport, by an ambulance, to the emergency room of a local
hospital. Jackson received 28 stitches and is presently awaiting consultation
with a plastic surgeon.
He also added that Jackson's injuries will likely have
permanent scarring.
Massey said that Mundy was moved to an alternate Delta
Air Lines flight and his emotional support dog was placed in a kennel in the
undercarriage.
Mundy, a military service member with the U.S. Marine
Corps, told authorities that the dog, a chocolate lab pointer mix, was issued
to him for support.
Delta Airlines website states that the company complies
with the Air Carrier Access Act. It allows customers traveling with emotional
support animals or psychiatric service animals to travel without charge.
The website states that a kennel is not required for
emotional support animals if they are fully trained and meet the same
requirements as a service animal.
Massey said his legal team is currently seeking
information from Delta Air Lines regarding their compliance with policies for
unrestrained larger animals within a plane's cabin. He also wants to see the
verification process of their emotional support animal training requirements.
"It is troubling that an airline would allow a dog
of such substantial size to ride in a passenger's lap without a muzzle,"
said Massey. "Especially considering the dog and its owner were assigned a
middle seat despite Delta Air Lines' policies that call for the
re-accommodation of larger animals."
At this time, a lawsuit has not been filed. Source:
www. al.com
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