Crime & Safety
Parents File Lawsuit Against Pittsburgh Zoo Over Mauling Death of Son
Maddox Derkosh, 2 years old, fell into a wild African painted dogs exhibit last year and was killed.
The parents of 2-year-old Maddox, who was killed after falling into a wild African painted dogs exhibit last fall, have filed a lawsuit against the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium for unspecified damages, according to WPXI.
The lawsuit filed on behalf of Jason and Elizabeth Derkosh of Whitehall Borough claims that zoo officials had ample warning that parents routinely lift their children onto a rail overlooking the exhibit so that the children can see the dogs better, according to the report.
The lawsuit states that zoos across the country have more and better safeguards in place to keep children safe.
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Following the incident, many donated toy trucks in memory of the toddler.
Zoo officials have not commented on the lawsuit, KDKA reported.
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