Woman who nearly lost foot in dog attack awarded $1.26M

BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – A 75-year-old woman has been awarded a $1.26 million settlement after nearly losing her left foot in a dog attack nearly five years ago.

"It's renewed my belief in the justice system," Marie Tatman told Florida Today after an emotional hearing Tuesday. 

Tatman lost 3 inches of her left leg after she was attacked by an Akita at Wickham Park in Brevard County in 2007. Tatman sued Sally Jaffe, the dog's owner.

According to Tatman's attorney, " She walked by the dog and out of the blue he went for her and grabbed her by the ankle," said Scott McMillen of Orlando. "He literally just crushed her ankle. It was a gruesome injury."

McMillen said Jaffe and her attorneys now have 30 days to appeal the ruling.