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Torts/Personal Injury

Jul. 16, 2024

Can you sue the government if your neighbor’s dog injures you?

The Court of Appeal ruled that the County is not obligated to act on complaints of dangerous animals until an animal control officer officially determines the animal is dangerous. This decision makes it challenging for plaintiffs to hold government agencies liable for not investigating dangerous dogs.

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A woman suffers grievous injuries after being attacked by two pit bulls. The investigation discovers that the dogs have been responsible for multiple attacks. The woman sues the dog owner for strict liability under California’s dog bite statute, but the dog owner is uninsured. Attempting to collect, she then sues the County, arguing that the animal control office was aware of these dangerous dogs, but did not properly investigate the dangerous dogs to prevent future ...

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