Matthew Prince escalates King Road mansion dispute with lawsuit against neighbors’ for their ‘menacing’ dogs

An artistic rendering of the cross valley view of the proposed home Matthew and Tatiana Prince seek to build on King Road in Park City. Photo: Park City Government

“This is essentially just two rich people fighting with each other, which is silly, but here we are,” - Matthew Prince

PARK CITY, Utah — Matthew and Tatiana Prince’s attorney filed a lawsuit against two of their neighbors on March 18, alleging that the neighbors’ two large dogs are “menacing” and frequently aggressive.

The lawsuit, filed by Matthew Prince’s LLC Pesky Porcupine in Utah’s Third District Court, alleges that Eric Hermann and Susan Fredston-Hermann, who own a neighboring parcel to the Prince’s property located at 200 King Road, frequently walk their large dogs, Sasha and Mocha, without leashes on a nearby trail easement.

At the beginning of this month, the Hermanns and several other local residents appealed the Park City Planning Commission’s decision to allow the Princes to build their 11,300 square foot mansion on King Road, which was granted in a split vote by the commission in late February.

In a Daily Beast article, an attorney for the Hermanns said the timing of the lawsuit “suggests a connection” to his clients’ appeal.

The complaint alleges that Sasha and Mocha often leave the trail easement and enter the Prince’s property, and that they have “approached, chased, and harassed” residents and guests while on the property.

“The residents of the Plaintiff’s Property cannot use and enjoy their property to its fullest extent and as they wish because the Large Dogs are aggressive toward people,” states the lawsuit. “All residents and guests, and especially children that on occasion may be at the home, cannot be outside at the Plaintiff’s Property out of fear of the roaming Large Dogs.”

The complaint goes on to call the Hermanns “senior and frail,” and alleges that they are “unable to control the Large Dogs,” even when they are walked separately.

The suit seeks damages for trespassing, private nuisance and breach of the trail easement agreement.

“This is essentially just two rich people fighting with each other, which is silly, but here we are,” Prince told The Daily Beast.