Maryland Senate Approves Strict Liability for All Dog Bites

The Maryland Senate has voted to change a state law so that it creates a strict liability standard for owners of all dogs, not just pit bulls.

The change was in response to a court ruling that determined pit bulls are “inherently dangerous” animals.

The Senate voted on the measure last Friday, August 10.

The bill addresses an April decision by Maryland’s highest court that created a breed-specific, strict-liability standard for owners of pit bulls or pit bull breeds. Under the ruling, a pit bull owner could be liable for a dog bite without previous evidence of the dog being dangerous.

The passed bill also reverses a part of the ruling by the Maryland Court of Appeals that made landlords strictly liable for pit bull bites.

The House must vote next.