Fans of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills know Kim Richards' dog, pit bull Kingsley, has caused just as much drama as most of the Housewives. Well, that drama is continuing. On Thursday, E! News revealed Kim and Kyle Richards are being sued over an alleged attack by Kingsley that took place in April. The reported lawsuit comes from Kim's friend, Paige Sanderson, who filed claims of negligence, emotional distress, battery, assault, strict liability, and many others, per court documents obtained by E! News. Kim's son, Chad Davis, and her lawyer, Bruce London, are also being sued. Bustle has reached to a representative for comment from Kim, Kyle, and Davis, but did not receive an immediate response. London could not be reached for comment.
Sanderson alleges she went over to Kyle's home in April to help her get ready for an appearance, when Davis allegedly let Kingsley out of a room, where the dog was being held. According to the documents, Sanderson claims Kingsley allegedly "lunged at [Sanderson] and bit and held onto her lower abdomen and crotch, tearing off her leggings and underwear and ripped out portions of flesh between her legs and genitalia." Sanderson claims the alleged attack resulted in her suffering from "severe physical injuries, emotional distress and pain and suffering and was required to seek, did seek and continues to seek medical treatment and surgeries for her injuries."
In the lawsuit, Sanderson claims that, before allegedly letting Kingsley out of the room where he was being kept, Davis said that "someone would be bitten if they did not leave." Sanderson also claims that prior to the alleged attack, Kingsley "had an extremely vicious and unusually dangerous nature and a propensity to attack, bite, and severely injured people without provocation."
The lawsuit doesn't stop there. Sanderson also claims that Kim and London tried to cover up the reported attack. She alleges the two "formulated a scheme" to make it look like the alleged attack was committed by a stray dog, rather than Kingsley. Per E! News, Sanderson's suit claims, "Richards refused to call 9-1-1 to seek emergency medical help for Plaintiff unless and until Plaintiff agreed to say the attack was done by a stray dog and not by Kingsley because it would give Defendant Richards negative publicity." Documents also claim that London "fraudulently filled out hospital papers to ensure the hospital staff knew that it was a stray dog attack, a statement Defendant London knew was not true, all to his personal financial gain."
This is not the first time Kingsley has made headlines in a negative way. In June 2015, Kim and her late ex-husband Monty Brinson were sued by Kelly Crossley, who claimed Kingsley attacked and bit her leaving her with "grave bodily injuries" in September 2014. The result of this case has not yet been reported. Also, in December 2014, family friend Ellen Catherine Rozario, sued Kim over an unprovoked attack by Kingsley in March 2014. Rozario won her case and received $8,083.53 in damages.
Furthermore, in November 2014, it was reported that Kingsley also attacked Kim's niece, Kyle's daughter Alexia Umansky, and bit her several times on the hand. Umansky had surgery and spent five days in the hospital, which Kyle documented on Instagram.
Umansky's incident was also mentioned during the RHOBH Season 5 reunion and was one of the reasons why Kim and Kyle hadn't spoke since the fifth season wrapped. At the reunion, Kyle was extremely upset and Kim refused to talk about it in detail. According to a November 2014 report from TMZ, after Umansky's attack, Kim ended up putting Kingsley in training.
Also in November 2014, Kim released a statement regarding the attack on her niece and said, "First off let me start by saying the safety and welfare of my family means the world to me. I love Alexia like she is my own child and have been in constant contact with my sister Kyle and niece Alexia." Part of her lengthy statement also read, "When guests are over Kingsley stays in my bedroom and has been given access to a special fenced-in area in my backyard. Anyone entering the house is made aware that the dog should not be bothered."
She also released a statement that same November to Page Six about Kingsley's future and said, "At this point I am looking at options to what the next step is for Kingsley. As many of you can relate, he is my best friend. This is a very difficult decision and time for all of us, but the safety of my family always comes first."
It remains unclear if or what kind of action Kim will take with Kingsley.
