* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Curran
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
title
In Support of State Legislation - Senate Bill 160/House Bill 78 - "Pit Bull" Ruling Fix
FOR the purpose of urging the swift adoption and enactment of Senate Bill 160/House Bill 78 to address the issue of dog attacks in a fair and science-based manner, while protecting pet lovers, property owners, and small businesses from excessive and damaging new liability concerns.
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Recitals
The Baltimore City Council supports legislation currently pending in the Maryland General Assembly to overturn the Tracey v. Solesky decision and create a fair and reasonable approach to dog bite liability for Maryland.
In the Solesky case, the Court of Appeals unilaterally changed hundreds of years of common law by declaring that the owners of “pit bulls”, or any third parties who allowed a “pit bull” onto property under their control, would be strictly liable for any harm the dog might cause, regardless of whether or not there was any prior indication that the animal might be dangerous.
This abrupt change in the law instantly created a new and potentially uninsurable liability risk for tens of thousands of Maryland pet lovers, property owners, and small businesses. Reactions to the imposition of this unexpected liability could cause “pit bull” owners to be evicted from long-rented homes if landlords could n...
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