Palermo v. Nails

CIRILLO, Judge:

This appeal presents for the first time in Pennsylvania, the question of whether a landlord out of possession owes a duty of care to his tenant’s invitees to prevent injury from a vicious animal kept by the tenant on the leased premises. Public policy requires a landlord to exercise an ordinary duty of care towards his tenant’s invitees when the landlord has actual knowledge of the dangerous animal’s vicious propensities and where the landlord maintains possession or control of the property.

This appeal arises from a personal injury suit commenced by appellee James J. Palermo,…