A mother is being blamed for the fatal mauling of her 2-year-old son by a pack of wild African dogs after the child fell into a Pittsburgh zoo’s exhibit last November.
The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium argues that the horrific death of Maddox Derkosh was “caused solely by the carelessness, negligence and/or recklessness of Elizabeth Derkosh” and the family shouldn’t be allowed to sue according to a court filing Monday.
The boy’s mother has admitted to holding her son in her arms to get a better view of nearly a dozen painted dogs below them from an observation deck on Nov. 4.
When her son unexpectedly “lurched forward” in her arms, he fell through an unprotected opening and onto the ground before being savagely ripped apart by the animals according to a complaint filed by the family in May.
The family’s attorney Robert Mongeluzzi has called the zoo’s position “dead wrong and shameful.”
“Having failed miserably in their solemn responsibility to prevent the attack, they have now shamelessly attacked Maddox’s grieving mother,” Mongeluzzi said in an email to the Daily News. “We look forward to exposing their reckless conduct, in discovery, and at trial.”
The parents are seeking unspecified damages against the park, claiming that the death of their only child could have easily been prevented and that the zoo ignored warnings from a concerned employee.
“Lou Nene, in an interview broadcast Nov. 28, 2012, on KDKA-TV admitted that he would see mothers place their children above or on the inadequately protected railing and opening ‘at least 10′ times a day,” according to the complaint addressing the dogs’ observation deck.
The toddler allegedly bounced off a net placed under this opening that was meant to catch small items such as cell phones and sunglasses, and then he landed fully conscious on the exhibit’s floor.
“Elizabeth attempted to enter the African wild dog exhibit by climbing through the opening viewing window in the observation deck, but was physically restrained by another zoo visitor,” the complaint claims. “She was forced to watch helplessly as the African wild dogs savagely mauled and literally tore apart her son in front of her.”
In March, the zoo announced the painted dogs were being removed from the zoo for other undisclosed homes.
“We want our visitors to enjoy a family fun and safe environment while learning about our animals. Unfortunately, the painted dogs would have been a continuous reminder of the accident and would distract from educational opportunities to learn about this wonderful and endangered species,” the zoo said in a statement.
In replacement of the painted dogs, the zoo said that a cheetah was brought in. The observation deck where the child fell was also removed from the exhibit.
On Thursday the zoo’s public and media relations manager, Tracy Gray, argued the zoo had continually exceeded all of the exhibit safety standards by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums with their last five-year accreditation awarded to them two months before the child’s death in September 2012.
“The USDA has conducted 35 inspections at the painted dog exhibit since its opening in 2006. At no time have any concerns or violations regarding this exhibit been identified by the regulatory agency,” said Gray in an email.
The Derkosh family is seeking a trial by jury according to their lawyer.
ngolgowski@nydailynews.com