SUNBURY - A tentative trial date has been set in the latest round of a lengthy legal battle over a champion French bulldog.
Karen Robertson, of Paxinos RR 1, who filed a civil suit in Northumberland County Court on Dec. 30, 2009, claims Susan Serovich and Matthew Kraynak of Kulpmont assaulted her when she visited her former dog, Duffy, on Feb. 2, 2009, at their home. She is seeking $50,000.
In county court documents, Robertson claims the couple verbally abused her and Serovich caused her to fall to the ground while Kraynak placed her in a headlock. The alleged negligence, assault and battery caused "serious and permanent injury," according to the suit.
At a pre-trial conference Thursday, attorneys for both parties agreed to a tentative jury trial date of the middle of December before Northumberland County Judge Charles Saylor.
Robertson, Serovich and Kraynak were once on friendly terms, but that ended in 2007 when they argued over the dog, which was once valued at $10,000.
In 2007, Robertson filed a civil suit against Serovich and Kraynak alleging they failed to comply with an agreement allowing her access to Duffy for breeding purposes after she gave the dog to the couple in October 2006.
Robertson, a professional breeder, said she could charge $1,000 for stud services and $3,000 for each puppy Duffy helped produce, and only gave him to the couple because she would still be able to breed him for three years.
Serovich and Kraynak, who remain in care of Duffy, claimed there was no agreement and said Duffy had to be neutered for health reasons.
The case took three years and cost the trio approximately $75,000 to settle. The issue was decided by the Superior Court, which sided with Serovich and Kraynak in June 2010 when it overturned a county court ruling allowing Robertson to continue to breed the dog.