About | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline Law Journal Library | HeinOnline

LOG IN
LOG IN


28 Bus. L. Rev. 9 (1995)
Beware Friendly Dog: Who Is Liable?

handle is hein.journals/binslwriw28 and id is 15 raw text is: BEWARE FRIENDLY DOG: WHO IS LIABLE? by WILLIAM E. GREENSPAN* INTRODUCTION Imagine a situation whereby Tom rents a house from Larry. Tom lives with his wife and two young children. He manages a pet shop and brings his two-year-old, thirty pound springer spaniel dog Jack- son to work each day. Tom's employer, Earl, encourages this because Jackson is friendly, active, and draws customers into the store. On the morning of December 13, Tom is at home, getting ready to go to work. Mary, Tom's mother-in-law is visiting and staying with Tom's family during that week. Tom's next door neighbor, Ned, is driving through the alley behind his house when he notices the lights of his neighbor Tom's car are on. Ned approaches Tom's house and, through the back door, informs Mary, who had borrowed Tom's car, that the lights are on. As Mary opens the door to go turn off the lights, Jackson runs out the door, down the footpath toward the alley. As Ned walks down the footpath back to his car, Jackson inadvertently bumps into the back of Ned's legs. Ned loses his balance and falls. He breaks his wrist and sustains back injuries. Even though Jackson is friendly, gentle and has a history of going outside early in the morning, nothing like this has ever happened before. Tom knew Jackson would probably try to get outside. When Jackson is outside, Tom normally clips the dog's collar to a chain secured to the steps of his garage, because Jackson would otherwise run all over somebody's garden or in somebody's yard. * Associate Professor of Law, University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, Connecticut.