The Hartford Courant reports on a recent pit bull attack at a Stonington, Connecticut hotel. This situation raises some questions about whether the hotel operators would share in the liability for the harms caused by the pit bull dog. You can read more about the story here:
http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-mystic-pit-bull-0112-20140112,0,4437973.story
If you would like to discuss legal representation for a Pit Bull Attack, please contact us for a Free Consultation.
In the recent Connecticut Supreme Court case of Giacalone v. Housing Authority of the Town of Wallingford, the court upheld the right of a person injured in a dog attack to pursue a claim for damages against a landlord if the landlord knows that there is a dangerous dog on the premises and fails to take remedial action. The plaintiff in the case, Patricia Giacalone, filed suit after she was attacked by a dog and suffered injuries at an apartment complex. The trial judge dismissed the complaint and ruled that the only person to sue in such a situation would be the owner or keeper of the dog. The Connecticut Appellate Court reversed that decision and ruled that a person injured in a dog attack could also recover damages from a landlord who is aware of the dangerous dog. The Connecticut Supreme Court upheld that decision.
“This decision by the Connecticut Supreme Court acknowledges the importance of holding property owners and landlords legally accountable when they allow dangerous conditions to exist on their properties. It also makes clear that it is important that a person injured in a dog attack have an opportunity to recover legal compensation for injuries from a number of different potential sources. Oftentimes, the dog owner or keeper does not have liability insurance to cover these damages.” Timothy L. O’Keefe, Kenny, O’Keefe & Usseglio, P.C.
The jury trial involving the pit bull attack of a postal worker in Terryville, Connecticut has been scheduled to begin on April 3, 2013 at New Britain Superior Court in New Britain, Connecticut.
The plaintiff, United States Postal Worker Michael Bonola, is represented by Attorney Timothy L. O’Keefe of the Hartford trial law firm of Kenny, O’Keefe & Usseglio, P.C.
“The Connecticut Dog Bite Statute allows a person injured or harmed by a dog owned by another person to bring a lawful claim for damages in Superior Court. To date, the defendant has refused to accept legal responsibility for this attack. We have no choice but to present the case to a jury to request a fair and adequate award of damages for Mr. Bonola’s injuries.” –Timothy L. O’Keefe, Esq.
Waterbury is putting teeth in its vicious-dog ordinance.
The Republican American reports (http://bit.ly/SepWCy ) that the Board of Aldermen has approved a change to the city’s code of ordinances, requiring owners to restrain their vicious dog at home in addition to previous rules restraining dogs in public.
If you or a loved one have suffered an injury involving a dog, you should consult with and experienced Dog Bite Lawyer to determine if you have a valid claim for compensation under Connecticut’s Dog Bite Statute.
Click here to read the whole story: http://tinyurl.com/95gf93s
A 20-year old woman and a 70-year old man were attacked on Tuesday, August 28th in unrelated dog attacks involving pitbulls. Both victims are in stable condition and the offending dogs have been taken into custody by the local animal control units. For more informtion about these attacks you can read the article via the link below.
If you or a loved one have suffered an injury involving a dog, you should consult with and experienced Dog Bite Lawyer to determine if you have a valid claim for compensation under Connecticut’s Dog Bite Statute.
In the Superior Court case of Kizer v. O’Neal, Judge Thomas Corradino recently held that engaging in conduct which is naturally likely to irritate and provoke a dog is sufficient to preclude recovery under the Dog Bite Statute. Therefore, a child too young to realize that rough housing could provoke a dog into biting may be barred from recovery under the Dog Bite Statute, even though the child was engaging in innocent play. Every case is different, so you should consult an experienced attorney in this area if you have questions about your particular situation.
A Connecticut Superior Court judge recently held that the Connecticut Dog Bite Statute and its strict liability provisions apply only to injuries caused by some active conduct by the dog. In the case of Moulton v. Coffee & More, LLC, et al., Judge Jerry Wagner ruled that a case involving a plaintiff who tripped over a dog who was lying next to the entrance of a store did not give rise to liability under the strict liability provisions of the Dog Bite Statute. Judge Wagner ruled that there would need to be some affirmative act on behalf of the dog for the statute to apply. This case demonstrates that every factual situation is different and every case must be analyzed closely by an experienced Dog Bite Lawyer to determine if there is a viable claim for monetary damages under the circumstances.
