Animal Liability

1) Introduction to the topic
2) Basis of Common Law Liability
a) Governs all 50 states
b) Covers any type of animal
3) Key to Common Law Liability
a) Viciousness
b) Owner on notice
c) Not limited to dog bites
4) One-bite Rule
a) Animal not otherwise dangerous
b) Owner not on notice
5) What establishes viciousness
a) Example
b) Actual viciousness
i) History of dog biting someone
ii) History of owner having such dogs
6) What establishes propensity for viciousness
a) Potentially dependent on breed
b) List of vicious breeds
c) No actual notice
7) Case examples
a) Example 1 (dog)
b) Example 2 (kitten)
c) Example 3 (horse)
d) Example 4 (horse)
e) Example 5 (dog)
8) Recap
9) Quiz – Reinforcing Part 1 Materials
a) 5 multiple choice questions
b) 4 choices per question
c) A second quiz if less than 80% score on first quiz

1) Eliminating the One-bite Rule
a) Inconsistency in its application
b) Introduction of state statutes
i) Strict liability
ii) Either only dogs or all animals
2) General Provisions
a) Owner liable regardless
b) Victim rightfully in that location
c) No provocation
3) Ownership
a) Defined
b) Examples
i) Professional Pet Sitter
ii) Neighbor’s kids
iii) Health-care aide
4) Lawful Right
a) Elements
i) Must be in location lawfully
ii) Can’t be a trespasser
b) What constitutes a trespasser?
c) Case Example
5) Recap
6) Quiz – Reinforcing Part 2 materials
a) 5 multiple choice questions
b) 4 choices per question
c) A second quiz if less than 80% score on first quiz

1) Provocation
a) Analysis
i) What did the human do
ii) What did the dog do
b) Reasonable Dog Rule
c) Case-by-case basis
2) Fencing & Farming Law
a) Introduction
b) Open Range Law
i) Purpose of fences
ii) Potential liability
c) Statutory law
i) Defined
ii) Defenses
d) Common Law
i) Indiana law on Adjoining and Adjacent property
ii) Liability for adjoining property owners
3) Recap
4) Quiz – Reinforcing Part 3 materials
a) 5 multiple choice questions
b) 4 choices per question
c) A second quiz if less than 80% score on first quiz

1) Introduction
2) Legal Standard of Ordinary Negligence
a) Defined
b) Open-ended
3) Equine Activity Liability Acts
a) Introduction
i) History
ii) Currently in 46 states
iii) How they generally work
b) EALA Exceptions
i) Faulty tack or equipment
ii) Dangerous land
iii) Mismatched horse and rider
iv) Gross negligence
v) Intentional wrong-doing
vi) Negligence
4) Recap
5) Quiz – Reinforcing Part 4 materials
a) 5 multiple choice questions
b) 4 choices per question
c) A second quiz if less than 80% score on first quiz

1) Introduction
2) EALA Requirements
a) Sign-posting requirements
i) Equine professionals
ii) Equine organizations
b) Contract-language requirements
3) EALA Defenses
a) EALA as a defense
i) “inherent risk”
ii) What caused the injury
iii) What types of exceptions, if any, would apply
b) Liability Waivers
i) Reasons why they fail
(1) Laws that forbid them
(2) Faulty drafting
(3) Problem or defect in the way it was presented or signed
(a) Children
(b) Legal guardian
(c) Parents
(d) Intoxication
(e) Time to read
c) Assumption of Risk
i) Made aware of the risks
ii) Should have known
iii) Express assumption
d) Comparative Negligence
i) Reduced compensation
ii) May be based on level of negligence
e) Non-party fault
4) Recap
5) Quiz – Reinforcing Part 5 materials
a) 5 multiple choice questions
b) 4 choices per question
c) A second quiz if less than 80% score on first quiz