Clemmons v. Fidler

Worswick, J. —

We are asked to extend the common law rule concerning liability for dog bites by holding that a landlord is liable for harm caused by his tenant's dog if the landlord knows that the dog has vicious tendencies. We decline, and we affirm a summary judgment dismissing Marti Clemmons' claim against Clarence Fidler.

Terry Calhoun had no pets when she rented a single-family house in Forks from Clarence Fidler on an oral month-to-month tenancy. Later, she married Mike Phil-brook and the Philbrooks acquired a pit bull named Popeye, which they kept chained to a truck axle in the yard of…