Bramble v. Thompson

This appeal presents for resolution a question of first impression in this State. We must decide whether the owner of an animal known by him to be vicious can incur liability when that animal attacks and injures a trespasser on the owner’s property. While the law in Maryland regarding the liability of an owner of property to trespassers as well as the liability of owners of vicious animals to persons injured is long established, it does not appear that this Court has ever decided a case in which both these tort principles were involved.

The facts here, as alleged in appellants’ declarations,…