NORTH CAROLINA -- The family of a 5-year-old girl who died from injuries suffered during a pit bull attack last year has been given a settlement.
According to lawyers from Rawls, Scheer, Foster & Mingo PLLC, the family of Makayla Woodard was granted a settlement of $20,000 for wrongful death.
Makayla and her great-grandmother, 67-year-old Nancy Presson, were attacked by a neighbor's dogs on January 12, 2011 at 325 Rehobeth Road.
Presson was bitten several times on her arm and hand while trying to pull the dogs off Makayla, according to police.
Makayla and Presson were taken to Carolinas Medical Center-Union in Monroe where the girl died. Presson was treated for serious wounds and later released from the hospital.
In March 2011, a Union County grand jury indicted the neighbor, 23-year-old Michael Gordon, with felony involuntary manslaughter in the death of Woodard. Deputies arrested Gordon him inside the Union County courthouse while he was to appear on the felony and misdemeanor charges.
According to the law firm, Gordon's homeowner's insurance policy will pay out the $20,000 settlement.
Amy Plyler, who is a family member, told WBTV last year that the little girl was attacked while trying to get into a fenced-in yard adjacent to her home. Makayla and her mother lived with Presson.
Makayla was mauled by a pit bull named Rebel which Plyler said "tended to wander the street."
"I don't know if Makayla even saw them coming," Plyler said last year.
Investigators said Rebel was immediately killed by authorities. The other dog was on the loose for a short time, but was later fatally shot by officers.
According to the Waxhaw Police Department, officers visited Gordon's house just weeks before the attack and warned him about restraining the dogs.
The town of Waxhaw does has a leash law prohibiting pet owners from letting their dogs run loose.
(WBTV - Feb 8, 2012)
