Szkodzinski v. Griffin

This is a dog-bite case. Lawrence Griffin (hereinafter defendant) owned a house located on Brys Drive in Grosse Pointe Woods. He rented the house to R. M. Cornell, who owned an Akita dog. The house had a fenced-in backyard. While Cornell was away, six-year-old Michael Szkodzinski climbed the fence and entered Cornell’s back yard in order to retrieve a ball. Cornell’s dog attacked Michael, causing serious injuries.

Plaintiff sued the Griffins and Cornell, alleging causes of action under a Grosse Pointe Woods city ordinance and common law. The Griffins filed a motion for summary disposition…