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Push to make owners liable for injuries caused by their dogs

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    Pet owners are fighting back

  • Duration 6:11
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-- -- back in session on the docket today the move that has dog owners in one state barking mad.

According Maryland ruled that any pit bull owner or landlord.

To a pit bull owner is liable meaning no trial necessary no questions asked if that pit bull bite somebody just period -- -- report you're guilty.

Now.

That ruling is being appealed.

But -- Maryland's lawmakers are pushing to extend the liability not just a papal owners looked up all the dog owners no questions asked.

If their dogs happened to -- -- -- -- no prior sign of aggression.

Pet owners are now fighting back.

Joining us now former prosecutor and defense attorney Randy examined in his debut appearance in Kelly's court is exciting and fox -- legal analyst Mercedes Colwin.

Also always exciting.

All right so Merrill and does not like pit bulls and let's just start with that ruling that it found that -- are inherently dangerous.

And that if you -- one and it bites even if it's -- -- -- whole life.

You're done you're guilty you're gonna have to -- I think it's a great ruling -- because you look at this you look at that that this think they are staggering.

A thousand injuries per day.

Over 60% of which stunning effect pitfalls so there's historical data but certainly support and that that the ruling.

The injuries and this child -- daily life threatening.

There apparently there are other evidence that this particular dog in this case had some propensity -- the court that we're done.

If your dog -- at this is simple.

They are strictly liable just like that you have strict liability with other issues and other -- of -- and I've.

Randy it -- the pit bulls are inherently dangerous is not without controversy and you look at the animal rights web sites and and so many of them say exactly opposite that it's just.

It's not so some are dangerous and some -- Put that issue aside is Marilyn no longer part of this country -- time I checked.

Our system of justice -- something called due process.

And when you want to find someone liable for doing something wrong you've got to prove knowledge now all of a sudden we don't have to prove knowledge.

Particularly when it comes to man's best friend this is this is -- this is not how we do things we don't step up to play with a counties -- until.

And you're looking at strike three.

You are allowed to walk into a courtroom with a level playing field lady justice is blind now all of a sudden I'm -- shot we don't need it pit -- -- boom you're done well -- I would do a thing.

That's right now and now so -- -- outrage in the in the wake of this ruling saying this is this isn't fair to owners.

People challenge -- property bases saying I'm getting kicked out I haven't -- all I'm not getting kicked out of my apartment building because my landlord.

Is -- -- -- be found liable which is under the laws and now stands if my dog bite somebody here you're depriving me of a property wrecked -- into my dog in my apartment.

But the thing isn't Mercedes and response now Maryland lawmakers are looking at making this.

Ruling to some extent even broader saying all dog owners.

Are presumed liable it's a -- -- presumption you -- going to try to argue I didn't really know.

But you -- liable if -- dog bites is that fair but it is there because look at what the injuries -- I mean he hasn't done I'm a dog owner I know what might what my dogs habits are I'm the one who.

And ensure that other people protected them from that document is only eight pounds but she's pretty -- He need this is the type of information that only I as a dog owner have I have full control at full custody I know the behavior.

I should be the one.

That is held responsible for the behavior of my dog and there isn't due process you raise it exactly right.

There is a presumption when you going that -- responsible to do a little higher -- -- let's -- you -- you know -- think -- god has no history of aggression and they can prove that -- is a rebuttal -- so you can -- it.

But why should you be behind the eight ball just from the beginning.

It's it's it's ridiculous and you know something Megan there -- collateral consequences to this which really haven't been thought out you're going to clog up the court system because now these ridiculous lawsuits that would otherwise never make it into a courtroom and get dismissed on the papers now suddenly.

They're going to end up in a courtroom so people who really need access to the courts they're not gonna get it.

People don't want to be spending more money insurance companies who invariably often -- end up having to defend these things.

Insurance costs are going to go up because now litigation that should never ever.

Go anywhere sudden.

-- now don't approve of knowledge already -- -- -- court.

What do you do with the injuries what do you do with the kids that get that get bitten by dogs and by the way statistically that 70% of the looked a bit on a daily base our children.

So they -- I.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- I -- -- -- as a dog owner and as a mother of two very young children you know three in and 21 months.

It's it's not.

Always the dog's fault I mean little toddlers can be very aggressive with.

-- least peaceful dogs and most dogs.

Are great and they'll let the kids you know beat up Bonham and don't won't bother them but some dogs get pushed the edge and it's not always just it doesn't always mean you have a vicious -- -- But I think that's really the courts and the legislators look that they -- that we have in individuals that are being injured every day we have to do something.

And who has the better the better way of protecting those individuals out there if the owners of adoptive parents and children that should keep kids away from dogs that they don't know why and that and well they certainly can do that but still there's still is the risk to those individuals with the dog and me as owners you you and I both dog owners.

We have -- the behaviors of response we should be the ones responsible there's an injury to a child wanna finish up on the subject of pit bulls Randy and it is just part of just an effort to just that -- -- just wanna eradicate that read.

Period and -- it's wrong and it's unjustified.

29 people died from dog bites I think about.

Fifteen a -- TV eighteen were from pit -- 121000 people died from gunshot wounds let's spend more time worrying about the hands of the people who have guns not the hands of the people with -- -- And it all comes roles are on the -- we heard the news of the day in -- Kelly's court.

That's not that easy Randy Mercedes thank you think things in coming up officials.

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