Lewellin Ex Rel. Heirs of Lewellin v. Huber

SIMONETT, Justice.

This case concerns liability under the dog owner’s liability statute, Minn.Stat. § 347.22 (1990). The court of appeals ruled that a dog’s nonhostile behavior which sets in motion a chain of events causing injury to a person some distance away comes within the statute and may impose liability on the dog owner. We disagree and reverse.

This case was presented to the trial court on cross-motions for summary judgment based on stipulated facts. Defendant-appellants Susan and Randy Huber owned a 6-month-old Golden Retriever. Before leaving on a vacation trip, they arranged for…