Arizona Legal Blog

Dog Bite Prevention Week

2011-05-17T21:52:00.000-07:00

This is dog bite prevention week. According to the Insurance Information Institute, dog attacks accounted for more than one-third of all homeowners’ insurance liability claims paid out in 2010, costing nearly $413 million.

Here are some tips for preventing dog bites:

1. Do not allow your dog to run at large.

2. Supervise children around dogs.

3. Neuter your dog.

4. Socialize your dog early.

5. Use extreme care with powerful breeds such as pitbulls, german shephards and rottweilers.

6. Do not encourage dog aggression!

7. Take extreme care with pregant or nursing female dogs.

8. Make sure all fences and gates are secure.

9. Do not chain a dog in your front yard.

10. Please be careful.

Dog Bite Prevention Week

Arizona dog owners now liable for attacks on others' pets

2011-05-04T13:08:00.000-07:00

We have assisted many clients whose dogs were killed or maimed another persons dog. This new law holds those negligent dog owners accountable for their actions. It also requires an owner to prohibit an aggressive dog from escaping a residence, enclosed area, yard or structure. A violation of that statute is a Class 3 misdemeanor. Furthermore, an owner is required to assert the necessary control to prevent an aggressive dog from biting or attacking a human or domestic animal while off the property. A violation of that statute is a Class 1 misdemeanor.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/community/glendale/articles/2011/05/03/20110503arizona-dog-owners-now-liable-attacks-others-pets.html#ixzz1LPrfH3YEArizona dog owners now liable for attacks on others' pets

N.M. woman on walk attacked, killed by 4 dogs

2011-04-26T18:30:00.000-07:00

TRUTH OR CONSEQUENCES, N.M. - A woman from Truth or Consequences died after being attacked by a pit bull and three pit bull mix dogs while taking a walk in her neighborhood Easter Sunday, New Mexico authorities said.

Officer James Harrington found four pit bulls mauling Margaret Salcedo, 48, when he arrived in response to a 911 call from a neighbor who heard her screams for help, Police Chief Patrick Gallagher said Tuesday.

A young man driving by told police he tried to get out of his vehicle but the dogs threatened him and he stayed put, Gallagher said

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/04/26/20110426new-mexico-dog-mauling-death26-ON.html#ixzz1KgOrDR5hN.M. woman on walk attacked, killed by 4 dogs

Toddler at Applebee's served alcohol

2011-04-12T09:01:00.000-07:00

Toddler at Applebee's served alcohol

Pit bull attacks Mesa officers

2011-03-28T14:15:00.000-07:00

Pit bull attacks Mesa officers

Safety inspections of roller coaster questioned after man's fatal fall

2011-03-23T15:50:00.000-07:00

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- It's been two days since a man plunged to his death at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. We still have more questions than answers, but we did get some new information about the roller coaster and we talked to another person who was concerned about its safety.

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=8027791

Suit filed in deaths tied to escaped Arizona inmates

2011-03-17T16:37:00.000-07:00

Family members of an Oklahoma couple allegedly slain by a trio of escaped Arizona inmates have filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit against the state, as well as the operator of the private prison near Kingman and a company that helped build the 7-year-old facility.

Cathy Byus, the daughter of Gary and Linda Haas, filed the lawsuit Thursday morning in Maricopa County Superior Court. The legal move came less than six months after the Haas' surviving family members filed a $40 million notice of claim against the state and Management & Training Corp., the Utah-based company that operated the private prison from which the inmates escaped.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/03/17/20110317arizona-escaped-inmates-lawsuit0317-ON.html#ixzz1GtzLIFISSuit filed in deaths tied to escaped Arizona inmates

Man wakes up to find dog ate 3 of his toes

2011-03-02T15:41:00.000-08:00

Man wakes up to find dog ate 3 of his toes

Dr. Phil's family friend sues over dog bite - NYPOST.com

2011-02-04T15:03:00.000-08:00

Phil and Robin McGraw are being sued by a former close friend over a dog bite.

Skin-care specialist Janet Harris, a frequent guest on "Dr. Phil" and a confidante of Robin McGraw, was bitten by the couple's dog, Maggie, while visiting the McGraws in December 2009.

Harris claims the bite caused a severe arm infection, which led to profound hearing loss (due to antibiotics she took) and forced her to close her lucrative LA business when she couldn't work.

The McGraws say Maggie, a Korean breed called a Jindo, bit Harris after being "inadvertently startled."

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/that_bites_82bSlcVjyvrJjDygGq3LAK#ixzz1D27Uqi6rDr. Phil's family friend sues over dog bite - NYPOST.com

Snowboarder dies after landing on head in Flagstaff

2011-01-25T15:01:00.000-08:00

FLAGSTAFF - A 22-year-old man has died from head injuries suffered in a snowboarding accident in Flagstaff.

The (Medford, Ore.) Mail Tribune reports that 22-year-old Branson Holm, a former resident of Oregon, was removed from life support at an Arizona hospital after suffering the injuries Jan. 9 in Flagstaff.

Family members said Holm suffered a serious head injury when he landed on his head while attempting to do a back flip on his snowboard.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2011/01/25/20110125arizona-snowboarding-death.html#ixzz1C5dY6peP

Snowboarder dies after landing on head in Flagstaff

Child Severely Mauled by 3 Dogs in Arizona City

2011-01-21T11:09:00.000-08:00

ARIZONA CITY, Ariz. - A 10-year-old Arizona City boy was severely mauled by three dogs who attacked him after he got off a school bus with a group of other children -- and the boy will survive thanks to quick action by neighbors

Child Severely Mauled by 3 Dogs in Arizona City

Man freed from Phoenix Sky Harbor conveyor belt

2010-12-20T07:28:00.000-08:00

Beware! Conveyor belts and escalators can be extremely dangerous. Escalators and conveyor belts are statistically much more dangerous than elevators. In elevators, the rider is protected in what is basically a metal box. On conveyor belts and escalators, you are dangerously close to the moving parts.

Man freed from Phoenix Sky Harbor conveyor belt

Arizona high court to review ruling on parents' liability for kids' wrecks

2010-12-01T11:10:00.000-08:00

PHOENIX - The Arizona Supreme Court has agreed to review a lower court's ruling on parents' liability for auto accidents involving their children.

The state Court of Appeals held that parents are on the hook financially even when a minor son or daughter gets in an auto accident while driving a family vehicle in violation of parental instructions.

The case stems from a 17-year-old's accident that caused serious injuries to another driver.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/12/01/20101201arizona-teen-driving-accidents-parents.html#ixzz16t6oDZkw

Arizona high court to review ruling on parents' liability for kids' wrecks

2 rollover accidents along I-40

2010-11-22T10:09:00.000-08:00

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- The Arizona Department of Public Safety responded to two rollover accidents Monday morning in the Flagstaff area.

One occurred at 6 a.m. on westbound I-40 a few miles west of Flagstaff.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/11/22/20101122accidents-I-40.html#ixzz162EoRLsN2 rollover accidents along I-40

Maricopa County to pay $2 mil to man shot in La.

2010-11-03T13:25:00.000-07:00

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors will pay $2 million to a Louisiana man who claimed deputies working for the Sheriff's Office shot him in the eye while on assignment to aid New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.

The Board of Supervisors approved the payment on a 4-0 vote at a Wednesday meeting; Supervisor Fulton Brock was absent for the vote.

Asked why the supervisors decided to settle the case, spokeswoman Cari Gerchick responded, "It was a business decision made to minimize taxpayer expense

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/election/azelections/articles/2010/11/03/20101103maricopa-county-supervisors-settle-man-shot-in-eye.html#ixzz14FhJwuvMMaricopa County to pay $2 mil to man shot in La.

Dog attacks 2 women in Gilbert; officer shoots charging animal

2010-10-21T11:41:00.000-07:00

Dog attacks 2 women in Gilbert; officer shoots charging animal

12-year-old boy nearly drowns in YMCA pool in Goodyear

2010-09-30T15:01:00.000-07:00

A 12-year-old boy was expected to recover after nearly drowning Wednesday night in the pool at the Southwest Valley Family YMCA in Goodyear, authorities said

12-year-old boy nearly drowns in YMCA pool in Goodyear

Own a dog? You need insurance

2010-09-08T10:16:00.000-07:00

The average cost of a dog bite was $24,840, up from $24,461 in 2008, with the number of claims rising nearly 5 percent.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/2010/09/05/20100905biz-wiles0905.html#ixzz0yxU5NMO8

Own a dog? You need insurance

Arizona prison escape, killings prompt lawsuit

2010-09-03T10:57:00.000-07:00

The first legal action in the Arizona prison breakout that led to the killing of two campers has been filed against the state and the operator of the private prison.

Vivian Haas, the mother of murder victim Gary Haas, filed a $10 million claim against Arizona and a wrongful death lawsuit against Management Training Corp., the company that operates the private prison near Kingman where three fugitives escaped on July 30.

The notice of claim is a required precursor to a lawsuit.

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2010/09/03/20100903arizona-prison-escape-lawsuit-brk03-ON.html#ixzz0yUGs40JM

Arizona prison escape, killings prompt lawsuit

Motorcyclists hit by semi-truck in Phoenix; 1 in critical condition

2010-08-28T07:20:00.000-07:00

A 58-year-old motorcyclist is in critical condition after being hit by a semi-truck Friday night.

Police said a NAPA Auto Parts semi-truck driver clipped one of three motorcyclists traveling southeast through the intersection of Grand and 19th avenues around 7:45 p.m.

The collision was initially considered a hit-and-run, but the 36-year-old truck driver returned to the scene about 30 to 45 minutes later to tell police he may have hit a motorcyclist at the location, said Sgt. Steve Martos, a Phoenix police spokesman

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/community/phoenix/articles/2010/08/27/20100827motorcyclist0827.html#ixzz0xuVdTvDp

Motorcyclists hit by semi-truck in Phoenix; 1 in critical condition

Glendale pool death: Lifeguards not required, Peoria district says

2010-08-25T10:23:00.000-07:00

Teen died after slipping in; teacher faces release

Read more: http://www.azcentral.com/community/glendale/articles/2010/08/25/20100825glendale-peoria-pool-death-lifeguards.html#ixzz0xdf5UAhc

Glendale pool death: Lifeguards not required, Peoria district says

Tempe police still searching for driver in fatal hit and run

2010-07-12T20:20:00.000-07:00

Tempe police still searching for driver in fatal hit and run

Tempe police are still searching for the driver in a fatal hit-and-run collision that took place between a motorized bicycle and a Ford Taurus or Mercury Sable late Saturday night.

The crash took place about 11:45 p.m. Saturday and claimed the life of a 32-year-old man who was riding the motorized bicycle.

Pooch-killing dogs on loose in Tempe, Chandler

2010-07-12T20:17:00.000-07:00

Pooch-killing dogs on loose in Tempe, Chandler

Two pooch-killing dogs, a white one and a black one, have become public enemies in a Tempe neighborhood near the Chandler limits.

The canines are terrorizing dog-loving, dog-walking neighbors in the area of East Chilton and McNair drives after they savagely attacked two small dogs July 5.

Connecticut Court Allows Dog Bite Lawsuits against a Landlord

2010-06-23T16:04:00.000-07:00

PATRICIA GIACALONE,
v.
HOUSING AUTHORITY OF THE TOWN OF WALLINGFORD.

(AC 30777).

Appellate Court of Connecticut.

In this Case, the plaintiff, Patricia Giacalone, was attacked by a pit bull owned by the tenant of the Defendant. The Landlord/Defendant knew there was a dangerous dog on the property but did not follow through to make sure that it was removed from the property. The Court allowed a common-law negligence claim against the landlord/defendant. We have been successful in bringing similar claims against landlords in the State of Arizona on behalf of dog bite victims.

Family dogs kill man with hundreds of bites

2010-06-16T11:05:00.000-07:00

Family dogs kill man with hundreds of bites

This is a very sad case. This is the type of extremely vicious behavior that we see when dogs feed off each other's aggression in a pack.