Is the Landlord Liable for a Tenant's Dog Bite in Vermont?

By the FigureMyTax Editorial Team · How we calculate

Vermont's one-bite rule applies to landlords as well as owners.

The rule

A news summary of the Vermont Supreme Court's decisions in Higgins and Gross says the one-bite rule applies to landlords, and that in Gross the landlord had no knowledge the dogs were dangerous.

What that means

A claim against a landlord needs proof that the landlord knew the dog was dangerous. Another firm adds that a landlord, manager or sitter may be involved if they had control over the dog or knew about a dangerous condition and failed to act.

What we could not confirm

We have not read the decisions and the case names come from secondary summaries, so confirm the holdings with an attorney.

Owner definition

For the town procedure, an owner includes a person with actual or constructive possession or who provides feed or shelter.

Deadline

Three years, under 12 V.S.A. 512.

This is general information, not legal advice, and the state comparisons above are illustrative, not an exhaustive survey. Confirm how Vermont's rules apply to your specific case with a licensed Vermont attorney.