The unfortunate loss of Ramon Najera in a vicious dog attack has propelled his family to seek justice through the courts. In a legal motion that carries the weight of accumulated grief, the Najeras have launched a lawsuit against the City of San Antonio, seeking redress for a calamity they assert was utterly preventable. This information has been reported by KSAT, who detailed the specifics of the case.
The lawsuit, filed this past Friday, criticizes the City and City Attorney Andy Segovia for not taking action to permanently remove the dangerous dogs that had previously been impounded for another attack. The pivotal instance occurred in February 2023, when Ramon sought to protect his wife from two Pitbulls, owned by Christian Moreno and Abilene Schnieder, only to fataly wound himself in front of their Depla Street home. These same dogs were known to the authorities, having been implicated in two or three prior incidents, according to the legal filings. The City, despite this awareness, allowed the dogs to be returned to their owners, a decision that culminated in tragedy. Christian Moreno and Abilene Schnieder have since pleaded guilty to charges related to the dog attack and are currently awaiting sentencing, as noted in a recent article by FOX San Antonio.
This incident illuminates a deeper issue of inequality and neglect within the San Antonio community. "What’s sad about this is the city has a habit of failing neighborhoods that already have some issues," stated Stanley Bernstein, one of the family’s attorneys, in a statement obtained by KSAT. He suggests a disparity in how threats are addressed depending on the affluence of the neighborhoods, implying that such a tragic occurrence would not be tolerated in more privileged areas of the city.
The goal of the lawsuit extends beyond seeking financial compensation, aiming to ensure such negligence does not reoccur. "What we can do is we can stop this from happening again, and that’s the hope. And that’s the idea, is that if the city does what it’s supposed to do, that these kinds of things don’t happen," attorney Marion Reilly told KSAT. Meanwhile, the City of San Antonio has yet to publically comment on the ongoing lawsuit.
The heartache and turmoil thrust upon the Najera family cannot be undone, yet Janie Najera, Ramon’s wife of 45 years, has found the strength to share her horrifying experience publicly in an effort to advocate for justice. Her harrowing testimonial is scheduled to be aired by KSAT on their Nightbeat program, offering an intimate glance at the real human cost behind the headlines and legal proceedings.
