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Breed Specific Laws? dog bite law

dog bite law State Roundup January 18 2013

The (Hagerstown) Herald-Mail

The Laurel Leader

The (Calvert County) Recorder

Center Maryland

Washington Examiner

EARLY VOTING EXPANSION: Gov. OMalley plans to propose expanding early voting days in Maryland and, for the first time, allowing residents to register on the same day that they cast ballots moves certain to rankle Republicans, writes John Wagner of the Post.

The Dagger (Harford County)

The Star Democrat (Easton)

The Howard County Times

The Business Monthly

Red Maryland

The de cto moratorium on fracking in Maryland seems likely to continue into 2014, reports Kate Havard in the Post, with the inclusion of $1.5 million in the state budget proposal for the next fiscal year for a study of hydraulic fracturing.

Baltimore Brew

BUDGET ANALYSIS: Mark Newgent of Red Maryland calls Gov. OMalleys budget proposal within a power point presentation not a policy document, but rather a crass litany of his accomplishments over the years of his two terms, peppered with petulant pot shots at his predecessor, and what he dubbed hara kiri Congress. Very presidential.

The Columbia Flier

CITY JUVIE JAIL: Earlier this week, the state dropped plans for a youth detention center in Baltimore City. Marc Steiner of WEAA-FM discussed the situation yesterday with Baltimore City Dels. Jill Carter and Mary Washington among others.

Cumberland Times-News

CRAIGS MONEY: Harford County Executive David Craig, one of the leading Republican prospects in the 2014 gubernatorial race, reported yesterday more than nine hours after Wednesday nights deadline that he raised about half as much money as his chief rival for the nomination, reports Michael Dresser for the Sun.

The Daily Record

Washington Business Journal

WYPR (Maryland Public Radio)

The (Annapolis) Capital

Greater Baltimore Committees Donald Fry, writing in Center Maryland, says that OMalleys budget proposal offers encouraging news for business advocates, by increasing by more than $27 million the amount of important business development tax credit incentives available in the next budget year.

Chestertown Spy

WTOP Radio Washington

The (St. Marys County) Enterprise

The Baltimore Sun

LEOPOLD TRIAL BY JUDGE: Anne Arundel County Executive John Leopold has waived his right to a jury in his criminal misconduct trial, clearing the way for attorneys to make opening statements today in a case that now will be heard by a single judge, write Andrea Siegel and Matthew Hay Brown for the Sun.

The Gazette

WBAL Radio

Baltimore County Patuxent Publishing Co.

His performance was bested by Blaine Young,2013-1-23 上午 4:12:52. president of the Frederick County Board of Commissioners, but both Republican hopefuls lag r behind the leading Democrats, reports John Wagner in the Post.

NOTEBOOK: The Gazettes Reporters Notebook has items on Ravens mania in the House; Del. Maggie McIntoshs marriage; Don Dwyers drinking; GOP headquarters; and Senate attire.

FRACKING STUDY FUNDS: Matthew Bieniek of the Cumberland Times-News reports that Gov. OMalleys fiscal 2014 proposed budget includes more than $1 million in funding for Marcellus Shale natural gas extraction studies. Lack of funding for the studies has slowed the work of the governors Marcellus Shale Advisory Commissiodog bite law State Roundup January 18 2013n.

Inside Charm City

The Queen Annes Spy

Maryland Chamber Action Network Blog

STATE CENTER RULING: Mark Newgent of Red Maryland posts a press release from the coalition of downtown Baltimore businesses that sued the OMalley administration over the State Center development. Circuit Court Judge Althea Handy issued summary judgment in vor of the plaintiffs on the material counts, according to the press release.

The (Salisbury) Daily Times

Baltimore Business Journal

The court ruling, which also held pit bull owners responsible for any attacks caused by their dogs, dismayed many dog owners because those with pit bulls were now liable for any attacks while landlords, too, were held liable for an attack caused by a renters dog, writes Kaustuv Basu of the Hagerstown Herald-Mail.

The Washington Post-Maryland

FROSH TOPS CARDIN: The Sun is reporting that state Sen. Brian Frosh took a more than 2-to-1 lead in the money race over another Democratic lawmaker known to be considering a race for attorney general in 2014. Frosh, of Montgomery County, raised $241,021 last year and now has $390,655 on hand. Del. Jon Cardin, of Baltimore County, reported raising $108,839,special education. bringing his total in the bank to $170,224.

Maryland Juice

MEDICAID FRAUD COLLECTIONS: Ilana Kowarski of MarylandReporter.com reports that the Maryland Attorney Generals Office has collected $12 million from perpetrators of Medicaid fraud so r this fiscal year, more than six times the amount recovered in all of fiscal 2012.

ASSEMBLY ISSUES: Gazette columnist Barry Rascovar says the General Assembly will have a hard time resolving the four big issues of this session wind rms, gun control, death penalty and transportation funding.

Baltimore Post-Examiner

The Washington Times

Talbot Spy

WJZ

Lutherville-Timonium Patch

RUN FOR THE MONEY: The Daggers Martin Watcher highlights campaign fundraising in his most recent column on state politics.

These publications have paywalls, and reading stories may incur charges.

WBFF (Fox Baltimore)

Maryland Politics (Baltimore Sun)

Much of the action will be in the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, writes Laslo Boyd in his Gazette column.

Leopold, who ces four counts of misconduct and one count of misappropriation for allegedly misusing his security detail, told retired Circuit Court Judge Dennis Sweeney he wanted him to hear the case, the Capital-Gazettes Allison Bourg reports.

The Diamondback (University of Maryland, College Park)

Conduit Street (MACo)

Maryland Politics (Washington Post Metro)

Marylands Money Matters

The Sentinel Newss

The Cecil Whig

NRA BEGINS LOBBYING: The National Rifle Association and a trade organization representing the $13.6 billion gun industry began work in Annapolis this week as the General Assembly prepared to debate some of the nations strictest gun laws, reports Erin Cox in the Sun.

The (Charles County) Independent

Towson Patch

The Marc Steiner Show WEAA Radio (Morgan State University)

PIT BULL LEGISLATION: Identical bills have been introduced in both chambers of the General Assembly to deal with the issue of who is liable when a dog bites a person, writes the Suns Michael Dresser. Sen. Brian Frosh, chairman of the Judicial Proceedings Committee, said the legislation would apply to all dogs, not just pit bulls, overruling the Court of Appeals breed-specific decision, and would eliminate what is known to some as the one bite doctrine under which a dog owner can be excused from liability if the pet has not bitten somebody else previously.

Eye on Annapolis

SAQIB ALI TO RUN: David Moon of Maryland Juice blogs that a source has tipped him off to a notable post on former Del. Saqib Alis Facebook page. Through a message sent via mobile phone, special education Ali announced, Ill be running for a seat in Marylands State Legislature from Marylands 39th District in 2014.

SLUGGISH ECONOMY: Ed Waters of the Frederick News-Post writes that State Comptroller Peter Franchot told 50 guests at the kickoff of Frederick Countys Financial Literacy Coalition yesterday that Maryland and the nation are a long way from turning the corner on the sluggish economy.

board3567.typepad.com

dog bite law Senate House reach compromise on pit bull issue

dog bite law Senate House reach compromise on pit bull issueIdentical bills have been introduced in both chambers to deal with the issue of who is liable when a dog bites a person, reflecting an agreement that eluded lawmakers during a special session last August.

The burden is shifted from the victim to know the propensity of the dog to bite or be dangerous, school479.typepad.com said Frosh, a Montgomery County Democrat. Its ir to victims, its ir to landlords, its ir to pet owners.

Sen. Brian Frosh, chairman of the Judicial Proceedings Committee, said the legislation would apply to all dogs, not just pit bulls, overruling the courts breed-specific decision. It would also eliminate what is known to some as the one bite doctrine under which a dog owner can be excused from liability if the pet has not bitten somebody else previously.

One of the concerns raised by the court decision is that it held landlords liable for injuries caused when a tenants pit bull bit somebody. Animal advocates have expressed concerns that landlords would require tenants to give up their pets in order to keep their housing.

At the same time, the measure would make it easier for victims to prove a case against an owner in all dog attack cases, regardless of breed, than it was before the court decision.

Key members of the Maryland Senate and House have reached a compromise on how to undo a Court of Appeals ruling last year that labeled pit bulls as an inherently dangerous breed.

A strict liability standard would have had unintended consequences, Simmons said. It would have caused insurance policies for homeowners to spike in ways that couldnt be predicted,satellite tv providers ConnecticutPluscom N. he said.

Please note the green-lined linked article text has been applied commercially without any involvement from our newsroom editors, reporters or any other editorial staff.

Shelters are seeing more pit bulls come in, she said. Its been harder to adopt pit bulls out.

Something needed to be done because weve been the bad guys since the ruling, said Michael Gisriel, a lobbyist for the Maryland Multi-Family Housing Association.

Tami Santelli, Maryland director of the Humane Society said the compromise addresses the organizations concerns that the decision was forcing Marylanders to choose between their dogs and their homes.

The compromise was endorsed by representatives of landlords and animal advocates.

Simmons said the House and Senate divided last year over the question of whether to apply a strict liability standard under which the dog owner would in many cases be automatically responsible for any injury caused by the pet. He said the Senate agreed to drop strict liability under the compromise, which provides that an owner could still call in witnesses to testify that the dog had not previously shown any signs of aggression.

Frosh and his House counterpart, Judiciary Committee Chairman Joseph F. Vallario Jr.,Atmosphere Friendly Water Well Drilling Equipment. promised quick action on the emergency bill, which would take effect upon its signature by the governor if passed by a supermajority in both houses. Vallario, a Prince Georges County Democrat, said his panel will hold a hearing Jan. 31.

Owners would still retain all the previous common law defenses that existed before the decision, including trespassing and provocation, Simmons said.

The bill returns the law on pit bulls to where it stood before the court decision, it more difficult to win a case against a landlord. A plaintiff would have to show that the landlord -- or housing or condominium association -- knew or should have know that the dog was dangerous.

Frosh said the issues that divided the Senate and House last year were worked out in talks between himself and Del. Luiz R. S. Simmons, a Montgomery County Democrat who sits on the committee that will handle the legislation in the House.