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Friday, April 19, 2024 | Back issues
Courthouse News Service Courthouse News Service

Reality Star Must Pay $8,000 for Dog Bite

LOS ANGELES (CN) - A judge ordered "Real Housewives" actress Kim Richards to pay more than $8,000 for an alleged pit bull attack.

Ellen Rozario sued her childhood friend Richards and "Real Housewives of Beverly Hills" production company Evolution Film & Tape late last year.

Rozario said the dog bit her at Richard's home on the morning March 20, 2014, after she stayed overnight as a guest with her daughter and granddaughter.

Rozario claims Richards begged her not to tell anyone about the incident, fearing that she would lose her job.

In a May 14 order , U.S. District Judge Andre Birotte found that Rozario failed to support with evidence her claim for $350,000 in unliquidated damages and $700,000 in punitive damages.

But Birotte entered a default judgment against Richards, ordering her to pay $8,083.53 in general damages to Rozario, who failed to participate in the litigation.

Birotte in April granted Evolution's motion to dismiss Rozario's claim for intentional misrepresentation and conspiracy to commit intentional misrepresentation.

Rozario claimed the production company was liable for statements Richards made in a season four episode of "Housewives," in which she allegedly implied that the dog was not dangerous.

Noting that Rozario had never seen the episode at issue, Birotte said Rozario failed to provide sufficient evidence to back up her claim that she relied on Richard's statements in it.

A representative for Richards listed on entertainment industry website IMDb did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

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