Bailey: Jury Finds Dog Owner Owed Nothing After Trespasser Bite

When a dog bites someone, it’s not a given that the victim deserves compensation. Many factors come into play, which must align with state laws on dog bites and negligence. At Boston Dog Lawyers, we’ve successfully blocked payouts in cases where the victim held some responsibility. Unfortunately, some owners end up paying out simply from fear after receiving a lawyer’s demand letter, without looking into the facts.  

Of course, genuine victims deserve compensation, but we believe cases should be decided with the BDL approach: driven by facts and logic, not emotion.  

In one recent case, the “victim” was a field salesman for a cable and internet provider. He visited our client’s property unannounced, wandered around looking for an entrance, and ignored “Beware of Dog” signs. Our client, who lives alone, was understandably startled to see a stranger, and her dog, Bailey, felt the same, eventually chasing and biting the salesman’s hand. He then went to the hospital and sued for three times his medical costs.  

By law, dog owners are strictly liable for bite injuries, except when the victim was teasing, tormenting, or trespassing. Since there was no insurance to cover this, we defended Bailey and his owner in court. The jury unanimously agreed that our client owed the plaintiff nothing.  

This case held the salesman accountable for actions that triggered the bite—a rewarding outcome for both dog owners and dog advocates alike.