Mills v. Smith

Parks, J.:

The plaintiff, Darci Lynn Mills, by her natural parents, Vernon and Althea Mills, appeals a $99.20 judgment awarded her in a personal injury action based on injuries she suffered when bitten by an African lion owned by the defendants, Ray and Maude Smith.

On June 27, 1981, plaintiff, who was then 21 months old, together with her parents; grandparents, Merle and Ann Buck-bee; and older sister Traci visited defendants’ Circle 3 Ranch located near Longford, Kansas.

The male lion, named Chester, was approximately three-and-one-half feet long and weighed 90 to 100 pounds. Gary Clarke, the…