Hillier v. Noble

This is a dog bite case. Plaintiff, a minor, instituted this action in negligence against defendants, through his mother as next friend. Defendants were the owners of a dog which, although secured by a relatively short chain, had bitten plaintiff when he went on their land to retrieve his family cat. The case was tried by jury with verdict and judgment for the plaintiff. Defendants filed various motions at the close of all the evidence: for a directed verdict, and subsequently for a new trial, to set aside the verdict, for judgment notwithstanding the verdict, and for a remittitur. These…