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Wayne Newton sued over alleged monkey attack

Pennsylvania residents who have visited Las Vegas may be aware that a mansion once owned by the singer and entertainer Wayne Newton was briefly turned into a tourist attraction. Visitors to Casa de Shenandoah could tour the house, view Newton’s extensive collection of luxury cars and take a look inside his private jet. They could also see a menagerie of animals ranging from horses and penguins to peacocks and monkeys.

One of these monkeys recently became the subject of tabloid headlines. A woman alleges in a lawsuit filed against the 77-year-old singer that the animal attacked her daughter during an October 2017 tour. The litigation was filed in a Nevada state court on Aug. 7, and it seeks damages of at least $15,000. The woman claims that the monkey attack was unprovoked, but she has not revealed the extent of her daughter’s injuries. According to media reports, the girl suffered a monkey bite on her right wrist.

Newton lived in Casa de Shenandoah for more than 40 years before selling the property to investors in 2010. The singer maintained an interest in the property until October 2017. He is said to have severed his ties to the estate after suffering a severe spider bite. When asked about the lawsuit, Newton told reporters that he was not responsible for the girl’s injuries in any way because he ended his business relationship with Casa de Shenandoah’s owners three months before the alleged attack occurred.

Cases such as this one are often decided by a judge rather than a jury. One of the elements of a dangerous property condition lawsuit is establishing that the defendant owned, occupied or leased the property in question. When this matter is disputed, attorneys representing the defendant may file a motion to dismiss. Personal injury attorneys with experience in this area may seek to avoid these situations by verifying ownership before legal proceedings begin.