dog bite liability News

Agent’s Failure to Disclose Dog Comes Back to Bite Homeowner

A Connecticut homeowner who is being sued by a woman who alleges his dog bit her in the face is not entitled to insurance coverage because his home insurance application, which was completed by his insurance agent, indicated he did …

Tennessee Dog Bite Claims Totaled $9.4 Million in 2016

Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance (TDCI) and the United States Postal Service have issued a reminder to Tennessee homeowners to obey leash laws to avoid costly dog bite insurance claims this year. For 2016, the Insurance Information Institute and …

Maryland Senate Approves Compromise Bill on Liability for Dog Bites

The Maryland Senate has approved a compromise bill on liability for dog bites. The House has already passed the bill, so it will go to the governor’s office for a signature. The bill would hold dog owners liable for biting …

Dog Bite Liability Measure Advances in Maryland Senate

Maryland’s Senate advanced a measure on Wednesday that would hold dog owners liable for bites, but protect those who can prove they didn’t know their dog was dangerous. The bill, which could get a vote in the Senate as early …

Kentucky Senate Passes Landlord Dog Bite Liability Protection Bill

Landlords who live on their own property would not be financially liable for a tenant’s dog if it attacks another person under a bill passed by the Kentucky Senate. Republican Sen. Chris Girdler of Somerset called the bill an effort …

Maryland Lawmakers Seek Compromise on Dog Bite Legislation

A new bill from Maryland’s state Senate would hold the state’s dog owners liable when their dogs bite “innocent victims,” but would also relieve owners who prove they couldn’t know their dogs were dangerous. This marks the Maryland General Assembly’s …

On a Leash: Dog Bite Insurance Claim Trends

Dog bites accounted for more than one-third of all homeowners insurance liability claim dollars paid out in 2012, costing more than $489 million, according to the industry’s Insurance Information Institute (III) and insurer State Farm. While the number of claims …

Maryland Dog Bite Liability Measure Fails in House

Lawmakers on the final day of the Maryland General Assembly failed to pass a measure that would change a court ruling that designated pit bulls as an “inherently dangerous” breed. The bill, which received unanimous approval from the Senate last …

In N.J. Pet Sitter Lawsuit, Debate Over ‘Independent Contractor’ Status

A recent court ruling in New Jersey focused on the question of whether a plaintiff who was bitten by a dog while working as a part-time pet sitter can be described as an “independent contractor.” The plaintiff, Hillary Aiges, agreed …

New Jersey Court: Pet Sitter Can Sue Dog’s Owners Over Bite

A New Jersey appellate court says a woman injured by a dog she was being paid to watch can sue the animal’s owners. The Star-Ledger reports the Bergen County woman agreed to care for her neighbor’s golden retriever while they …