A woman is suing a local farm and its owners after she says she collided with a cow that had wandered into a roadway in Marion County.
The lawsuit was filed in the Fifth Judicial Circuit Court of Marion County by Emania Kelly against Coyote Crossing Holdings LLC, William Wayne Jones II, and Bill Jones.
The complaint centers around a severe traffic collision that allegedly occurred on the evening of May 27, 2024.
According to court documents, Kelly was lawfully driving her vehicle near SW 49th Court in an unincorporated area of Marion County when she suddenly collided with a cow that was standing in the public roadway.
The lawsuit alleges that Coyote Crossing Holdings LLC and the individual defendants owned, maintained, controlled, and harbored the livestock involved in the incident.
The plaintiff argues that the defendants had a strict duty to exercise reasonable care in the ownership, confinement, and supervision of their animals to prevent them from entering public roads and creating an unreasonable risk of harm to passing motorists.
The complaint specifically cites a violation of Florida Statutes, which makes it unlawful for livestock owners to knowingly, negligently, or willfully permit their animals to run at large or stray upon public roads.
Kelly claims that the defendants breached their statutory and common law duties by failing to properly inspect, maintain, and secure the enclosure where the cow was kept.
As a direct result of colliding with the animal, the plaintiff says she sustained serious bodily injuries, significant property damage, and other consequential harm.
The lawsuit lists a multitude of damages sought by Kelly, including compensation for past and future medical expenses, lost wages, physical impairment, disfigurement, scarring, mental anguish, and a permanent loss of the capacity to enjoy a normal life.
Kelly is demanding a trial by jury to address the negligence and seek appropriate relief for the permanent injuries she suffered during the crash.