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WARREN, Mich. — An Eastpointe woman who sued a Warren police dog was fined by a judge to pay $500 for frivolously naming the dog as a defendant. She was also fined another $500 for failing to appear in Macomb County Circuit Court for a February hearing.

Inez M. Starks, 55, filed a lawsuit in August against the city of Warren and several police officers for a 2007 incident outside of her daughter’s Warren home. During the altercation, Starks claimed she was bitten in the buttocks by the Warren police dog Liberty.

Starks said she was bitten by the German shepherd April 7, 2007, outside of her daughter’s home during a confrontation between police, her daughter and others.

Police went to the home after receiving a truancy complaint against Stark’s daughter involving her daughter’s child. During the visit police found the woman’s brother, who had an outstanding warrant. The dog was brought in because the man started to flee.

The Macomb Daily reported that Starks, who was living across the street from her daughter at the time, said she came over to complain when a fight broke out, causing the dog to attack. Starks said she was bitten on her right buttock.

Starks claims the bite caused damage to her sacroiliac nerve, impairing her ability to walk and keeping her in pain.

But according to the police report of the incident, no evidence that Starks was bitten was found.

Judge David Viviano ordered Starks to pay the $1,000 fine by April 13 or her case will be dismissed.

According to the Maccomb Daily, even if Starks does pay the fine to have the case restored, attorney Raechel Badalamenti, representing the city of Warren, said the defendants will still ask the judge to dismiss the case.