California Dog Bite Law Landlord

Allowing a dog to escape.

California dog bite law landlord.

Landlord liability for dog bites inflicted by tenant s dog under some circumstances a california landlord can be held liable when a dog belonging to a tenant bites a person. Phillips speaks from vast experience as the author of dog bite law and the only lawyer in the usa who has done nothing but dog bite cases since the 1990s. Take precautions while in most instances a dog s owner is liable for any injuries the dog causes if you allow dogs on your property its essential to take the necessary steps to. There are exceptions to a dog owner s liability though.

But if the dog escapes the landlord s property because of defects in that property the landlord is liable for the off site injuries in other words a landlord can be held liable if a dog escapes as a result of broken or inadequate fencing. In the pages linked below read about liability for dog bites in california. For example the landlord might have been taking care of the dog or might have failed to repair a gate or fence. Model dog bite laws.

Justia california civil jury instructions caci 2017 463. Knew the dog was dangerous. In a residential landlord case with a tenant owned dog that bites another causing bodily injury the california court noted that a landlord could still be liable for the tenant owned dog. Civil code 3342 is the calfornia dog bite statute it outlines when dog owners are responsible for injuries caused by their dog.

Unlike other states california holds dog owners strictly liable for dog bites this means they can have to compensate victims even if their dog showed no prior signs of aggression. Whether you own a dog in california or have a claim for a dog bite or other injury you ll want to understand the state s laws on owners civil and criminal liability when their animals hurt someone or have been aggressive read on for the details. Code 3342 essential factual elements free legal information laws blogs legal services and more. If the landlord chooses to allow the animal to remain on the property knowing that it could be a threat to the safety of all tenants and anyone else who may.

If a landlord gives permission for a tenant to keep a dog on the property and then defects on the property such as a rotten board on a fence allow the dog to escape and bite someone the landlord may be liable even if the bite did not take place on the landlord s property. A landlord has no duty to warn a prospective tenant of the presence of. For parents of dog bite victims. The dog had bitten or attacked someone and the landlord was aware of the attack.

Because states can change their laws at any time it s always a good idea to check the current california statutes using this. A duty of care may not be imposed on a landlord without proof that he knew of the dog and its dangerous propensities. Because the harboring of pets is such. In short if a landlord had knowledge that a dog posed a real threat to others the landlord could be held liable.