The family of 8-year-old Saida Mashrah, who survived an attack in Detroit's Ryan Park last year, has filed a $50 million lawsuit against Gary Lansky, 74. He is accused of slitting the girl's throat in what her family's attorney says was a hate crime. The lawsuit seeks compensation for the trauma and injuries Saida suffered, including 20 stitches to her neck, according to CBS News Detroit.
Last year October, Saida Mashrah was playing in a park when Lansky allegedly attacked her with a knife and tried to attack her grandmother. The family waited to file a lawsuit until Lansky’s mental competency was evaluated. A year after the attack, Saida said, "I dream about the whole entire park, blood, and I feel like in my dreams the guy would say 'I’m coming back for you', and that makes me scared. That’s why I cry in the middle of the night." Her lawyer, Nabih Ayad, said, "We feel that he should stay in jail, remain in jail for the rest of his life," as reported by FOX 2 Detroit.
The lawsuit says Lansky planned the attack and had thoughts of harming a child. Saida has transferred to a different school and will need therapy. Nasser Beydoun of the American Civil Rights League noted a rise in such incidents nationwide. A pre-trial hearing for Lansky is scheduled on Friday, and the lawsuit seeks restitution from his assets, with Ayad stating, "but I can assure you for every dollar that he has, we're going to make sure we take that away from him," as mentioned by WXYZ.
