Woman sues owners of Shepherd mix accused of knocking her over, chasing her Shih Tzu

A Cook County couple is being sued over allegations its dog attacked and knocked over a pedestrian.

Rhonda and Dennis McClintock filed a lawsuit April 21 in the Cook County Circuit Court against James and Irene Martinson, citing negligence and the state's Animal Control Act.

The McClintocks claim Rhonda was walking her small Shih-Tzu on a public sidewalk on 67th Ave. in Tinley Park where the defendants' large Shepherd mix dog knocked her over.

The suit alleges that Martinsons' dog barreled into Rhonda's leg, knocking her down to the ground and causing her to drop her dog's leash. The McClintocks claim their Shih-Tzu ran off with the Shepherd chasing after her and as a result of the incident, Rhonda suffered fractured a bone within her knee joint and shoulder derangement that required surgery.

The McClintocks are seeking damages in an amount exceeding jurisdictional limits and any further relief court deems just. They are being represented in the case by Chicago attorney Matthew J. Leonard of Leonard Law Group LLC.

Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 2014L004420.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at the Cook County Courthouse. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note, a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it only represents one side of the story.