Category Archives: Appellate Court Rulings

A collection of posts about state and federal appellate court rulings pertaining to dog bite victim lawsuits, dangerous dog laws and breed-specific legislation.

2015 First Quarter Report: Municipalities and Grassroots Beat Back State Preemption Bills Barring Local Pit Bull Ordinances

A Primer on State Preemption Laws and Charts for Advocates Chart illustrates 35-years of U.S. fatal pit bull attacks in 5-year periods. We added short teal vertical bars to indicate when each state passed a preemption law barring municipalities from enacting pit bull ordinances. We also marked the end of the CDC's 20-year study period, 1998, showing the dramatic rise in fatalities since. DogsBite.org - During the first quarter of the 2015 legislative season, state preemp… [Read full blog post]

2015 Dog Bite Fatality: Maryland Man Mauled to Death by Adopted Rescue Pit Bull

Attacked While Taking Down His Christmas Tree Adopted from Rescue UPDATE 01/08/15: New information has been released about an elderly man mauled to death by his pet pit bull while taking down his Christmas tree. The fatally attacking dog was a 4-year old neutered male pit bull that Eugene Smith and his son adopted from an unnamed rescue organization in May. The pit bull was not a stray as earlier reports claimed. Police officials continue to look into the dog's background. Ani… [Read full blog post]

Aurora Citizens: Do Not Rescind Your Successful Pit Bull Ban

Vote No on Pit Bull Ballot Question, Proposition 2D Vote No on Proposition 2D Aurora, CO - On October 14, ballots will begin to be mailed to all registered voters in Aurora, Colorado. In a first ever general election vote, the public will be asked the following: "Shall the people of Aurora adopt an ordinance allowing pit bulls back into their city?" We urge residents of Aurora to vote no. The City of Aurora adopted a pit bull ban in 2005. Since this time, serious pit bull maulings ha… [Read full blog post]
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Maryland Legislature Mutes Landmark Ruling, Tracey v. Solesky, During 2014 Legislative Session

Included: Timeline of Major Events from 2007 to 2014 Annapolis, MD - On April 8, Governor Martin O'Malley signed Senate Bill 247 into law abrogating the Court of Appeals of Maryland's decision in Tracey v. Solesky. The 2012 decision declared pit bulls "inherently dangerous" and attached strict liability when a pit bull attacks a person. This liability extended to landlords when a tenant's pit bull attacks. DogsBite.org submitted an amicus brief to the high court on behalf… [Read full blog post]