A prominent Fox Business Network anchor is suing Whole Foods for millions after a vicious pit bull attack left her with permanent scarring, reduced mobility and severe emotional trauma — claiming the grocery giant failed to enforce its own pet restrictions.
- Here is what we know:
- Jackie DeAngelis, 46, co-host of ‘The Big Money Show,’ was bitten on the hand by a black pit bull at a Manhattan Whole Foods in September 2023
- The injuries required surgery and caused permanent scarring, reduced mobility and ongoing difficulty with everyday tasks
- DeAngelis filed her lawsuit in August 2026 — over three years after the incident — alleging the dog was NOT a legitimate service animal
- She claims Whole Foods violated its own policies by allowing an unqualified animal to remain in the store
- The dog’s owner fled the scene before police arrived; the case comes as DeAngelis is reportedly being considered for a major on-air promotion at Fox
Fox Anchor’s Pit Bull Attack Claim Against Whole Foods
Jackie DeAngelis was simply doing her weekly grocery shopping when her life changed forever. The Fox Business Network television personality was browsing the shelves at the upscale Whole Foods location at 10 Columbus Circle in Manhattan one September afternoon in 2023 when she came face-to-face with a large black pit bull.
In seconds, the dog lunged and bit her hand with brutal force. The attack left her bleeding, shocked and in excruciating pain.
‘The injuries were serious enough to require surgery,’ her legal complaint states, describing permanent scarring and loss of hand function that continues to plague her years later.
Whole Foods Allegedly Allowed Unqualified Animal Inside Store
DeAngelis’s lawyers argue that Whole Foods catastrophically failed in its duty of care by allowing what she insists was a fake service animal to roam freely inside the grocery store.
The chain maintains a strict no-pets policy except for legitimate service animals trained under federal law to perform disability-related work. ‘Whole Foods prohibits pets in its stores but allows service animals as required by the Americans with Disabilities Act,’ her lawsuit explains.
However, under the ADA, emotional support animals and therapy dogs that provide companionship alone do NOT qualify as legitimate service animals. The pit bull that attacked DeAngelis appears to fall into that excluded category, she claims.
Three-Year Legal Battle Begins
DeAngelis filed her formal complaint in Manhattan Supreme Court on August 20, 2026 — nearly three full years after the vicious attack.
She is demanding unspecified damages covering extensive medical bills, surgical costs, ongoing rehabilitation, permanent scarring removal attempts, lost wages and severe emotional distress from the traumatic incident.
‘The injuries are permanent and continuing,’ her legal team stated bluntly in court filings.
The dog and its owner vanished from the store before law enforcement could arrive and document the scene.
Pit Bull Attacks Prompt Broader Safety Debate
DeAngelis’s case arrives amid a fierce national debate about pit bull-type dogs and whether certain breeds cause disproportionately severe injuries.
A 2026 medical study analyzed 276 dog-bite patients and found that attacks involving pit bulls were significantly more likely to result in surgery or severe trauma compared to other breeds.
Research from major U.S. trauma centers has identified pit bull-type dogs and German shepherds as the breeds most frequently connected to serious bite injuries requiring hospitalization.
DogsBite.org, an advocacy organization tracking severe dog attacks, reported that pit bulls were involved in roughly two-thirds of fatal dog attacks documented between 2005 and 2019.
However, breed classification remains controversial because mixed-breed dogs are difficult to identify visually and no universal population data exists for pit bull-type dogs across America.
Rising Fox Star Eyes Major Network Promotion
The lawsuit timing is particularly intriguing because DeAngelis’s profile at Fox Business has been skyrocketing in recent months.
According to media reporter Dylan Byers at Puck News, the popular anchor is allegedly being considered as a potential replacement for Maria Bartiromo’s coveted primetime slot — one of the most prestigious positions in cable business news.
The promotion would represent a stunning career leap for DeAngelis, elevating her from daytime programming to the network’s marquee evening broadcast.
Whether the Whole Foods lawsuit will impact her advancement remains unclear.
What Happens Next?
DeAngelis’s case will ultimately hinge on three critical legal questions: Was the pit bull actually a qualified service animal under federal law? Did Whole Foods reasonably enforce its own animal policies? And did the chain have a legal duty to prevent this specific attack?
As of now, Whole Foods has not publicly responded to the allegations or commented on the lawsuit.
Source: CelebBNews.info
