Child bitten protecting playmate

Verdict in Delaware County. 6 year old child was playing with a few other kids in the yard where the dog lived. The dog was outside with them chasing the kids around. My client tackled another kid and the dog, trying to protect the child (son of parents who own the dog) attacked my client, biting him on the arms and legs. The injuries were moderate, and required cleaning and debridement at the ER. A year later, there were scars left behind, both physical and psychological. The insurance company denied the claim saying (1) it happened on the dog’s own property; (2) the dog was provoked and (3) no prior incidents. During litigation, I was able to get the dog owners to admit that the dog barked a lot, and jumped on guests (playfully, according to them). This fact was enough to argue to the jury that they should have known that the dog should have been kept away from others due to his “aggressive propensities.” The jury agreed and flu found against the dog owner.