Omaha Approves Dangerous Dog Ordinance
By Michael Morse | October 4, 2008
Omaha, Nebraska passed a law requiring owners to put a muzzle on their pit-bulls and other dogs deemed by the City to be dangerous. The law defines dangerous by the breed of the dog and includes any dog that would bite when unprovoked or would chase people down the streets. However, dogs that pass a canine good citizen test will not be compelled to wear a muzzle, but will be required to wear a vest at all times. Moreover, the ordinance restricts the time that a dog can be tied up outdoors, limiting this to 15 minutes under the supervision of someone at least 19 years of age. Failure to comply with the Omaha ordinance can result in the owner’s forfeiture of the dog.
For more information on dog bites and what to do if you are bitten by a dog in Michigan or Ohio, visit www.dogbite-attorneys.com.
Topics: Michigan Dog Bite Lawyer, dog safety | No Comments »
Owning a Dog Can Take a Bite Out of Your Wallet
By Michael Morse | October 3, 2008
Dog owners need to assess their financial liability should their dog attack someone. Single bites could cost tens of thousands of dollars, lawsuits even more, and if the attack is serious, dog owners could even serve jail time to account for their dog’s actions. Moreover, due to the rising costs of dog-bite claims, some insurers now refuse to cover certain breeds, those most often denied are pit-bulls, Dobermans, Rottweiler’s, Akitas, Chows, and wolf hybrids. However, some insurers will cover all breeds, but will increase the premium should the dog bite someone.
Here are a few things to consider before purchasing a dog:
- According to the Insurance Information Institute, dog bite claims comprise 1/3 of all homeowner insurance liability claims and in 2007 cost insurers $356 million.
- According to the Insurance Information Institute, the average dog-bite claim in 2007 was $24,511.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicated that 4.7 million people are bitten by dogs each year and nearly 1 million require medical attention.
- n 2007, 32 people died as a result of being attacked by dogs.
For more information on dog bites and what to do if you are bitten by a dog in Michigan or Ohio, visit www.dogbite-attorneys.com.
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130 Pound Pit-Bull Mauls 6 Year-Old Boy
By Michael Morse | October 2, 2008
A six year-old boy is in serious condition after being mauled by a massive pit-bull last week in Moses Lake, Washington. Authorities say the six year-old was playing in his grandmothers back yard when the 130 pound pit-bull pushed through the fence, chased the boy down and leaped on him, biting his ears, face and scalp. The attack was so severe that the child required being airlifted to a local hospital. Police say that the dog will be put down and that the owner will face charges.
For more information on dog bites and what to do if you are bitten by a dog in Michigan or Ohio, visit www.dogbite-attorneys.com.
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California Dog-Bite Victim Receives One-Million Dollar Settlement
By Michael Morse | October 1, 2008
A California woman recently settled a lawsuit for severe scarring and injuries to her face after being attacked by an American bulldog. On April 6, 2006, the woman was walking her own dog to a bus stop to pick up her children when she was attacked by the bulldog that bit her face and permanently scarred her nose. Following several surgeries to rebuild her face, the woman received $900,000 and her husband and two children received $33,000 each, an amount that equaled the upper limit of the dog owner’s insurance policy. Moreover, the dog was euthanized and its owner, who insisted that the dog had never bitten anyone before this incident, was sentenced to four months in jail and 100 hours of community service.
For more information on dog bites and what to do if you are bitten by a dog in Michigan or Ohio, visit www.dogbite-attorneys.com.
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Owning a Dog can be Risky Business
By Michael Morse | September 29, 2008
Under certain circumstances, dog owners can be liable for injuries caused by their pet. Generally, if the owner knew the dog had a tendency to cause injury; if a state statute makes the owner strictly liable; or if the injury was caused by extreme carelessness on behalf of the owner, the owner will be liable for injuries caused by the dog. A dog owner who is legally responsible for an injury may be responsible for reimbursing the injured person for medical bills, pain and suffering caused by the attack, and lost wages.
There are three types of laws that impose liability on dog owners:
- Dog-bite statutes: these place liability upon the dog owner for any injury caused by the dog, regardless of the underlying circumstances.
- One-bite rules: In some states, the owner will not be liable for the first bite of his dog. However, once the dog has bitten someone it is considered to have demonstrated vicious behavior and the owner is on notice of its violent propensities and will be liable for any subsequent attacks.
- Negligence laws: Under this standard, the dog owner is liable if the injury occurred because of the unreasonable carelessness of the dog owner in controlling his dog.
For more information on dog bites and what to do if you are bitten by a dog in Michigan or Ohio, visit www.dogbite-attorneys.com.
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Landlords can be Held Liable for their Tenants Vicious Dogs in some situations
By Michael Morse | September 25, 2008
There are some circumstances in which a court can hold a landlord responsible for harm caused by a tenant’s dog. Generally, landlord liability rests upon allowing the owner to keep the dog in the rental unit, whereas owner liability is based upon improperly controlling the dog.
Although state laws may differ, when it comes to holding a landlord liable for a tenant’s dog attack, it typically must be shown that the landlord knew before the incident that caused the harm that the tenant possessed a dangerous dog and the landlord failed to take proper precautions to prevent the dog from attacking someone. Many states hold that a landlord is put on notice that his tenant has a dangerous dog based solely on the dogs breed, as in where a tenant owns a Pit Bull, Great Dane, etc. Another basis for holding a landlord liable for an attack by a tenant’s dog is by showing that the dog exhibited prior violent tendencies. This may consist of the dog biting people in the tenant’s rental unit or snapping at other residents or visitors in the unit’s hallways or common areas.
For more information on dog bites and what to do if you are bitten by a dog in Michigan or Ohio, visit www.dogbite-attorneys.com.
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Michigan City Considers Tightening the Leash on Pit Bulls and other breeds
By Michael Morse | September 23, 2008
A woman in Livonia, Michigan has urged the city council to strengthen its dangerous animal laws following an attack by two pit-bulls that left her injured. Livonia is the most recent Metro Detroit city to explore enacting more restrictive laws for ownership of “bully breed” and other dangerous dogs. City governments in Farmington Hills, Allen Park, and Redford Township are discussing passing or revising ordinances restricting bully breed and dangerous dog ownership by requiring the purchase of liability insurance, muzzles, microchips, and special licensing. Moreover, next month Southfield will revisit a plan to prohibit ownership of bully breeds.
Cities across Michigan, such as Grosse Pointe Woods, Waterford Township, Melvindale, and Ecorse already prohibit bully breeds, while Dearborn Heights, Muskegon Heights, Alma, Westland, Morenci and Roosevelt Park have all passed laws regulating pit-bull ownership.
For more information on dog bites and what to do if you are bitten by a dog in Michigan or Ohio, visit www.dogbite-attorneys.com.
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Michigan Bulldog owner goes to Prison
By Michael Morse | September 23, 2008
Diane Cockrell of Howell, Michigan plead no contest to two felony counts of keeping dangerous animals causing death as well as to a third lesser charge for the mauling and killing of two Michigan residents last September. Authorities said that four of Ms. Cockrell’s Bulldogs escaped from her farm and attacked and killed a 91 year old man in his driveway and a 56 year old jogger. Circuit Court Judge Latreille sentenced Cockrell to pay more than $30,000 in restitution and serve 4 to 15 years in prison.
If you or someone you know are injured by a Michigan Dog Bite, call attorney Michael Morse at 800-281-0606, or visit our website at www.dogbite-attorneys.com.
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Fate of Killer Dog to be Decided
By Michael Morse | September 21, 2008
On September 6th, a three week-old New Jersey baby was mortally wounded by the family dog. The forty pound Husky attacked the baby as its mother momentarily left its presence. Foul play is not suspected in this case and experts suggest that dogs who are unfamiliar with new infants in the house may mistake it for an animal or even a squeaky toy.
Now, because the Husky did not test positive for rabies, its owners can elect to have the dog returned to be kept as a pet, to have the dog euthanized, or to sign it over to the county for possible adoption. However, as of today, the owners have indicated that they do not wish to have the dog returned to them.
For more information on dog bites and what to do if you are bitten by a dog in Michigan, visit http://www.dogbite-attorneys.com
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New Dog Bite Ordinance in Michigan
By Michael Morse | September 20, 2008
The city of Farmington Hills has created an animal review board to determine whether a pet is dangerous based upon previous attacks. The board consists of the city manager, police chief and fire chief, or their deputies and assistants. Generally, the board will label a dog or other animal as dangerous if it has attacked or bitten a person or another domestic animal, or if the dog or animal threatens to cause serious injury to a person or to another domestic animal. However, the ordinance indicates that the animal will not be labeled dangerous when it bites or attacks a person who is knowingly trespassing on the owner’s property.
If the board determines that a dog or animal is dangerous, its owner will be required to take numerous precautions to prevent further attacks; such as registering the animal with the city, posting signs on the property warning that there is an animal on the premises that presents a danger to human beings, properly enclosing the animal and enrolling the animal in certified obedience classes. Moreover, the animal’s owner will be required to carry at least $1.5 million in personal liability insurance to cover any claims of personal injuries inflicted by the animal. Failure to comply with the ordinance will result in a misdemeanor.
For more information on Michigan dog bites and what to do if you are bitten by a dog, visit www.dogbite-attorneys.com or call us directly for a free consultation at 800-281-0606.
Topics: Michigan Dog Bite Lawyer, dog safety | No Comments »
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