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Nicola Peltz’s billionaire father, Nelson Peltz, is facing another lawsuit involving the pit bull his actress daughter gave him. A woman named Joy Ransom claims the six-year-old rescue dog, Houdini, attacked her while she was visiting Nelson and his wife Claudia Peltz’s $375 million Palm Beach estate for business.

The complaint comes shortly after the couple confidentially settled a separate lawsuit brought by a former housekeeper who accused the same dog of attacking her. None of the allegations in Ransom’s lawsuit have been proven in court.

Nelson Peltz Sued Over Alleged Dog Attack

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According to legal documents obtained by the Daily Mail, Ransom is suing Nelson and Claudia for more than $50,000 in damages and has requested a jury trial. Ransom alleges that Houdini was roaming freely on the property on December 23, 2025, when he attacked her without warning. “Houdini, without any provocation, suddenly and without warning bit and attacked” Ransom while she was legally on the premises, the complaint stated.

Her attorneys argue that the Peltzes were responsible for keeping visitors safe from the dog and failed to confine him properly. “As a direct result of the defendants’ negligence, Joy Ransom suffered bodily injury and resulting physical and mental pain and suffering,” the filing continued. “The injuries are either permanent or continuing.”

The complaint also claims that Houdini had allegedly displayed aggressive behavior before the December incident. According to the filing, “Houdini had, on at least one occasion, attacked Joy Ransom and other business invitees.”

Nicola Peltz May Be Questioned About The Incident

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Ransom’s attorneys also raised questions about whether Nicola was present when the alleged attack took place. The filing reportedly asks Nelson and Claudia to admit or deny whether their 31-year-old daughter was “present with Houdini” at the time of the incident. Nicola gave the rescue dog to her parents after obtaining him through Yogi’s House, an animal shelter she co-founded.

The “Bates Motel” actress celebrated the adoption on Instagram by sharing footage from Houdini’s first evening with the family. “This video makes me want to cry. My dad adopted Houdini @itsyogishouse dog. This is their first night as a family,” Nicola wrote at the time.

The actress has not been named as a defendant in Ransom’s lawsuit.

The Lawsuit Claims Houdini Should Have Been Classified As ‘Dangerous’

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Ransom’s legal team points to the earlier lawsuit involving former housekeeper Mileydis Morejon as part of its argument that Nelson and Claudia should have known about Houdini’s alleged behavior. The latest filing claims the couple should “have known Houdini met the criteria for classification as a ‘dangerous dog’.” Ransom further alleges that the Peltzes failed to report Houdini’s supposed dangerous tendencies to the appropriate animal control authority.

The complaint also accuses them of failing to obtain the required registration certificate, ensure the dog was microchipped, or keep him muzzled and leashed while outside a proper enclosure, as allegedly required under Florida law. Those claims remain allegations and have not been established by a court.

A Former Housekeeper Previously Sued Over Houdini

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Morejon filed a separate lawsuit against the Peltzes in December 2024, accusing Houdini of repeatedly threatening and attacking her while she worked at the family’s estate. The former housekeeper alleged that she was once forced to use a dust stick to fend off the dog before hiding inside a room. She also claimed Houdini tore at her pants during another encounter.

In her complaint, Morejon alleged that Houdini “had a vicious nature, a vicious disposition, and/or had a propensity to attack and/or attempt attacks which was known or should have been known” by the couple. She claimed the alleged attacks occurred “without any provocation, suddenly and without warning.”

Morejon also alleged that she suffered injuries to her back, neck, and both knees, requiring multiple pain-management procedures. She had sought more than $75,000 in damages.

The case continued for approximately 18 months before Morejon’s attorneys filed a notice of settlement on April 30. The parties reached an agreement in May, but its terms remain confidential. Because the dispute ended in a settlement, the allegations were not resolved through a trial verdict.

Nelson Peltz Previously Denied Responsibility

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Before reaching the confidential settlement, Nelson’s attorneys sought summary judgment against Morejon. His legal team argued that a “Beware of the Dog” sign at the estate’s main entrance absolved the Peltzes of responsibility.

They also contended that Morejon was an independent contractor and that the couple therefore had “no duty to protect” her from injuries on the property. Morejon responded that she used the service entrance rather than the main entrance where the warning sign was displayed.

Her attorneys also argued that the request for summary judgment was “premature and substantively flawed” because the discovery process had not been completed and important witnesses had not yet been questioned. Nicola had been expected to sit for a video deposition in the case because Morejon claimed she had “knowledge of the subject incident.” However, that deposition was canceled following the settlement.

During a September deposition, Morejon confirmed that cleaning up after the family’s dogs was included among her responsibilities. “So cleaning up after the dogs was part of your job responsibilities. If they were to go on the floor, you would clean it up; is that fair?” a defense attorney asked.

“Yes, yes,” Morejon responded.

The latest lawsuit now places Houdini’s behavior, and what the Peltz family allegedly knew about it, back before a Palm Beach County court.

The Nicola Peltz’s Rescue Dog At Center Of Second Lawsuit Against Billionaire Father first appeared on The Blast