Bernhart v. Nine

This is a dog-bite case. The dog’s name is Tiny. Tiny’s victim was 3-year-old Brendan Bernhart. Brendan’s dad has brought a suit in his behalf and in behalf of Brendan against Tiny’s master, Melvin E, Nine. A Superior Court jury returned a vertict for Mr. Nine. At issue in this appeal is the applicability of G.L. 1956 (1976 Reenactment) §4-13-16, which, in its pertinent part, makes an owner or keeper absolutely liable if his dog “shall assault, bite or otherwise injure any person” while that person is “traveling the highway or out of the enclosure of the owner or keeper of such dog.” Since…