Boston housing inspector sues landlord for traumatic brain injury, cracked ribs she says she suffered in fall down stairs after building manager's dog lunged at her

An ISD housing inspector looking at a second-floor apartment at 194 Harold St. in Roxbury on Oct. 21, 2021 today sued the building's owners and property manager for the permanent injuries she says she suffered in a fall down the stairs after the manager's dog lunged at her.

In her suit, filed in Suffolk Superior Court, Diane Huynh says she suffered "severe and permanent physical and emotional injuries," which include "traumatic brain injury, cervical spine sprain and/or strain, lumbar spine sprain and/or strain, multiple rib fractures, knee tear with surgery, headaches, dizziness and memory loss" after falling down the stairs of a three-family house.

The complaint alleges that building manager Elvis Lanza failed to control his dog and that Huynh "was not committing a trespass or tort, and was not teasing, tormenting or abusing the dog."

In addition to Lanza, Huynh also sued the building's owners and trustees: 33 Abbotsford Street Realty Trust and Live Free or Die Holdings, both of South Boston.

Lanza and the two companies have until Jan. 17 to file an answer to the suit, court records show.