$100 million lawsuit filed against Pharr over dog attack that killed elderly woman

The daughter and granddaughter of a 91-year-old Pharr woman mauled to death by her son’s dogs have filed a federal lawsuit against the city seeking $100 million in damages.

An attorney filed the lawsuit Friday on behalf of Lorena Cundari and Michele Piszczor over the death of Estela Manteca, who died on May 6, 2023. She was attacked by the dogs on Jan. 10, 2023.

They allege the city’s Public Works Division grossly failed to protect Manteca from a “preventable attack by a large pack of vicious dogs owned by her son, Alex Aranda, with whom she resided.”

“Despite repeated warnings, urgent pleas for assistance, and specific notice of the dangerous nature of the dogs—particularly Ringo, Billy, Casper, and Bonita—the City of Pharr exhibited a pattern of deliberate indifference, neglecting to take reasonable measures to mitigate the known and escalating threat, ultimately resulting in the tragic and avoidable injuries on January 10, 2023, and death of Estela Manteca on May 6, 2023,” the lawsuit stated.

The lawsuit accuses Pharr of “shocking dereliction of duty and extremely gross negligence.”

After the attack, Manteca was left in a coma, had both legs amputated and died months later. The amputations were required due to severe infection and sepsis.

“Her arms, chewed to the bone, underwent extensive skin graft procedures that failed to heal adequately, and medical experts anticipated that they too might have required amputation had she survived,” the lawsuit stated.

Cundari and Piszczor allege that the four dogs named in the complaint were previously identified as vicious animals and were known to Pharr Animal Control and police due to prior attacks.

Official documentation and records evidencing this are included as exhibits to the lawsuit. The lawsuit also includes photos of Manteca’s injuries and the bloody interior of her home where the attack happened. It also says the dogs were found covered in the woman’s blood.

The women allege that prior to Jan. 10, 2023, animal control and police were aware of the danger posed to Manteca, citing multiple phone calls and warnings made by family members, neighbors and others.

“At 91 years old, Estela Manteca was a vulnerable citizen, fearful and intimidated by her son, a fact made known to the City of Pharr through its police department and animal control officials; her elderly and fragile condition created an environment of heightened danger, of which officials were repeatedly warned by family members,” the lawsuit stated.

Further, the women say that all four dogs were declared vicious on Jan. 24, 2022, which requires confinement, leashes and muzzles, proper signage and insurance. The city, however, never followed up to ensure compliance, according to the lawsuit.

And just four days before the fatal attack, the city of Pharr issued a “Notice of Impoundment for Destruction” for one of the dogs — Ringo — after it attacked another individual.

“As a result of witnessing the aftermath of this preventable tragedy and enduring the emotional impact of her mother’s catastrophic injuries and untimely death, Plaintiff Lorena Cundari has suffered severe emotional trauma, including severe depression, anxiety and significant psychological distress; this event has left an enduring emotional scar on Lorena, profoundly affecting her well-being and quality of life,” the lawsuit stated.

The lawsuit said Piszczor carried the burden of responsibility for Manteca’s well-being and says she suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, depression and anxiety.

Federal court records indicate a summons was issued to the city of Pharr on Monday.

An initial hearing in the case hasn’t yet been scheduled.

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