Source: http://masscases.com/cases/sjc/346/346mass270.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 00:15:02+00:00

Document:
MAUDE S. KOLLER vs. ADELE S. DUGGAN & another.
TORT. Writ in the Superior Court dated December 10, 1959.
The action was heard by Tauro, J., who found for the plaintiff in the sum of $25,000.
Charles W. O'Brien for the defendants.
Walter J. Hurley (Vincent J. Cosgrove with him) for the plaintiff.
REARDON, J. The plaintiff who sustained personal injuries as a result of a dog bite brought this action of tort under G. L. c. 140, Section 155, as amended through St. 1934, c. 320, Section 18. The case is before us upon the defendants' exceptions to the denial of their requests for rulings, to the finding for the plaintiff, and to the denial of their motion for a new trial.
on -- come say good-bye," and "bent over in a sort of semicrouch with both knees flexed" to stroke and pat the dog's back. As Mrs. Duggan was returning with the plaintiff's coat the dog growled and leapt at the plaintiff biting her in the mouth and doing such damage to her upper lip that a separation resulted large enough in size to enable her to place her tongue through it and touch her nose with her tongue. For this injury she was treated at the Massachusetts General Hospital where she remained for a week, was bedridden at home for two additional weeks, and was confined to her home for about three months thereafter. As a result of the bite she has scars on her face and chin which are permanent and not to be eradicated by plastic surgery. The nature of the plaintiff's employment was sales promotional activity, and efficient and proper verbal expression was lost to her for approximately one year with a residue of speech impairment thereafter.
At the trial before a judge sitting without jury the plaintiff rested after introducing the auditor's report. Mrs. Duggan testified that her husband owned the dog which had been asleep on the floor when the plaintiff put her hand on him.
1. In request numbered 2 the defendants have raised the question whether the plaintiff sustained the burden of proof that the defendants were the owners and keepers of the dog which bit her. The auditor so found and his finding was evidence before the trial judge to be weighed by him. See Cook v. Farm Serv. Stores, Inc. 301 Mass. 564, and cases cited. There was evidence to warrant a finding that both defendants were owners and keepers of the dog. Canavan v. George, 292 Mass. 245, 249-250. Curran v. Burkhardt, 310 Mass. 466, 467. Since the plaintiff sustained the burden of proving joint ownership, it was unnecessary to demonstrate that the defendants were also joint keepers. Ibid. at pages 467-468. The trial judge rightly denied the defendants' request.
the dog committed a technical trespass. General Laws c. 140, Section 155, provides for recompense for "damage to . . . the body" by any dog "unless such damage shall have been occasioned to the body . . . of a person who, at the time such damage was sustained, was committing a trespass or other tort, or was teasing, tormenting or abusing such dog." The general term "trespass" is to be viewed in the context of the entire statute. "The statute evidences a legislative recognition of the right of a possessor of land to keep a dog for protection against trespassers." Rossi v. DelDuca, 344 Mass. 66, 70. See Riley v. Harris, 177 Mass. 163, 164-165. In any event, we do not believe that "trespass" taken in its broadest sense should have reference to trespass to a dog. To hold that a pleasing overture to "man's best friend" by a business or social invitee constitutes a technical trespass would be to set in motion a chain of social consequences so profound and far-reaching as to defy present analysis. The statue specifically precludes recovery where there has been "teasing, tormenting or abusing" of a dog. We construe it as governing in these terms the entire gamut of wrongful acts against dogs. The applicable rule is that particular words and phrases will limit and define general words and phrases which are to be found within the confines of the same statute and which might embrace related acts or conduct. Appleton v. Massachusetts Parking Authy. 340 Mass. 303, 309. The burden was on the plaintiff to demonstrate that she was not committing a trespass or other tort and that she was not teasing, tormenting or abusing the dog. Sullivan v. Ward, 304 Mass. 614, 615-616. Curran v. Burkhardt, 310 Mass. 466, 467. Rossi v. DelDuca, 344 Mass. 66, 69. She was found not to have engaged in any wrongful conduct within the meaning of the statute so as to preclude her from recovery. This request of the defendants was thus rightfully refused.
will be upheld unless there is clear indication that as a matter of law there was an abuse of discretion. Bartley v. Phillips, 317 Mass. 35, 40-44. Moran v. Pieroni, Inc. 326 Mass. 516, 517. The plaintiff suffered serious and permanent injury. The damages awarded were not "greatly disproportionate to the injury proved." Statkus v. Metropolitan Transit Authy. 335 Mass. 172, 174.

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