A Los Angeles jury awarded Genice Horta $5.4 million after she was mauled by a shelter dog with a known history of biting. Horta, a transport driver, was not warned about the Belgian Malinois, Maximus, before it attacked her arm in 2020, requiring six surgeries. The case centers on a failure to comply with California law requiring disclosure of a dog's bite history.

The incident occurred when Horta, hired by the HIT Living Foundation, offered Maximus a trazodone-laced treat. A shelter employee testified he warned her not to approach the dog but was captured on video trying to control Maximus with a cable. Shelter records showed the dog had previously bitten a teenager and an employee, with one warning reading "USE EXTREME CAUTION!!!"

The jury found the city of Los Angeles 62.5% liable, the rescue group 25% liable, and Horta 12.5% liable. This is the third major payout against L.A. animal shelters for failing to disclose a dog's dangerous past, following a $3.25 million award and a $7.5 million settlement. The verdict underscores the substantial financial risk shelters face for inadequate risk communication and animal handling protocols.