AAARRRrrrggggghhhhh! No! Just... No.
Praying for the boy. And everyone else, too.
On the long-term, practical side...
It sounds to me like your nephew just figured out how his college career is going to get funded. Permanent damage, you say? That’s a slam-dunk win in just about any court in the land. The guy’s insurance company might not even bother fighting it.
My Number One Son got knocked off of his bike by an inattentive driver, and had no lasting injury at all, but the driver’s insurance company comp’d him all of his medical bills, replaced his bike and other damaged property, and tossed in nearly $11K for “pain and suffering.”
No doubt a permanently disfiguring injury coupled with the emotional and physical trauma, and possible ongoing fear of dogs will knock down some serious compensation. Make sure the family sets their sights on at least a million; the boy’s going to have to live with this his whole life, after all.
One thing about the hapless neighbor: focus the bulk of pressure on his insurance company; not him. The guy may be so embarrassed he doesn’t know what to say, and he’s got to remain livable as a neighbor, no matter what else happens.
” possible ongoing fear of dogs “
Yeah, that does last a lifetime.
I know.