Massachusetts Dog Law
Liability Statute
If any dog injures a person, the dog’s owner or keeper will be liable for damages, so long as the victim was not committing a trespass or other tort or was not teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog at the time of the injury. In cases where the victim is under seven years old, the law presumes that the child was not committing a trespass or other tort and was not teasing, tormenting, or abusing the dog, and the burden of proof is on the defendant. Finally, in cases where the dog is owned by a minor, the child’s parent or guardian will be liable for damages.
Treble Damages Statute
In Massachusetts, local authorities can issue orders regarding control of certain dogs. If a local authority orders a dog to be restrained, and the dog thereafter injures a person, the dog’s owner or keeper will be liable in treble, or triple, the amount of damages sustained.
Dangerous Dog Statute
Massachusetts does not have a Dangerous Dog Statute.
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Please note: State law information collected from LexisNexis™ electronic database in 2005. All of our lawyers are licensed to practice in the state of Pennsylvania. We also have lawyers licensed to practice in Ohio, and West Virginia and we associate with experienced attorneys in other states.
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