Best Criminal Defense Lawyers in Dundalk, MD

New Post: Can a Landlord Be Held Liable For a Dog Bite? -   Dog bite cases are very complex, especially when landlords are involved. Holding landlords responsible is not easy, but a negligent landlord who ignores dangers on their property may be financially responsible for failing to protect you. Read on for more information about dog bite landlord liability under dog bite law in Maryland. Dog Bite Landlord Liability Case Law Whether a landlord has a duty to protect his tenants or their guests from a vicious dog depends on the facts of the case. The court generally recognizes dog bite landlord liability when dangerous conditions exist in a common area under the landlord’s control. Except in certain cases of dog bite negligence and strict liability in Maryland, the landlord is not liable for hazardous conditions that appear after the tenant takes possession of the property. In the 1998 case Matthews v. Amberwood, the court deliberated about whether an apartment landlord should have protected a guest who was injured by a dangerous dog in a tenant’s apartment. The landlord knew that the tenant kept a pit bull in violation of the “no pets” clause of the lease, but took no steps to prevent the danger. The court decided that the landlord was responsible for protecting a visitor, especially if they knew about a vicious dog on the premises and were able to protect tenants from it. In the case of Shields v. Wagman, the court held the shopping center landlord liable whe...