Martin Scorsese's former nurse sues him after his 'vicious' and 'ferocious' dog attacked her, resulting in permanent injuries
A former nurse of Academy Award-winning director Martin Scorsese has sued the 75-year-old and his wife for allegedly failing to keep their 'vicious' and 'ferocious' dog under control, resulting her in suffering permanent injuries and 'mental anguish,' reported NY Daily News.
The nurse in question, Natara Matias, was reportedly working at Scorsese's $12.5 million Lenox Hill mansion on East 64th St near Park Avenue when the 'attack' took place. However, it's important to note that the incident took place more than two years ago, in September 2015.
When this was pointed out and the veracity of the claims questioned, Matias' lawyer, Greg Martello, insisted that she only took this long to come out with the incident because his client wanted to collect enough evidence against the director and his wife.
The complaint, which was filed this past April, states that Scorsese's dog, a Yorkshire Terrier named Desmond, was set upon Matias while she was working at the house and took a bite out of her leg, and that she subsequently fell and sustained injuries to her neck and back, resulting in her being unable to work for a duration of two years.
It also describes Desmond as 'wild, unruly, and vicious,' and possessing a 'ferocious nature' that infested in a tendency to attack other dogs and people. The complaint also accused the Scorseses of 'negligent, careless and reckless and grossly negligent in the ownership, operation, management, maintenance, supervision, use and control of the aforesaid dog.'
However, pictures of the terrier on social media indicate that Desmond was everything other than a vicious pooch. Furthermore, the dog reportedly passed away just a year after he 'attacked' Matias, with the couple's daughter Francesca paying tribute to his life on her personal Instagram account.
"Desmond (February 1, 2003 - July 19, 2016) - RIP Desi, I will always have an empty feeling in my heart because you brought me so much happiness throughout my life and now you're gone. I still haven't processed it yet. I grew up with you-you were My Baby Boy, and now My Baby Boy is gone. You helped me feel better through my ups and downs, which I am SO beyond thankful for because we both know that things got very hard in the past, to say the least," she wrote.
She continued: "Even if this comfort you gave me was a little nuzzle with your snout or a look into my eyes, I always knew you somehow understood my pain. I wish I could have given you one last cuddle, one last kiss... I miss you more than words can describe. I love you so much and I will never forget you. Rest in peace you beautiful angel- My forever and always Baby Boy. I love you."
Both Scorsese and his wife have denied any wrongdoing in the incident, with their reply to the lawsuit stating that 'injuries and the damages plaintiff may have sustained at the time and place alleged in the complaint were caused in whole or In part, or were contributed to by the culpable conduct and/or want of care and/or assumption of the risk on the part of the plaintiff and without any negligence or want of care on the part of the defendants, Helen Scorsese and Martin Scorsese.'