Court Opinion

ID: 9569087
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-21 20:10:30.593545+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:15:43.677354
License: Public Domain

Quillian, Presiding Judge.
The plaintiff filed an action for damages resulting from injuries he sustained when he was knocked off his motorcycle in a collision with defendant’s dog. The defendant’s motion for summary judgment was granted and this appeal followed. Held:
1. The trial judge did not err in granting defendant’s motion based on the finding that the defendant lacked knowledge of the animal’s propensity to do harm of the type which was inflicted. Carter v. Ide, 125 Ga. App. 557 (188 SE2d 275); McNair v. Jones, 137 Ga. App. 13 (223 SE2d 27).
2. "Where there is a lack of scienter even the breach of a leash law is not sufficient to hold the owner responsible for the acts of the dog. Connell v. Bland, 122 Ga. App. 507, 510 (177 SE2d 833) and cases therein cited and discussed.” Jett v. Norris, 133 Ga. App. 596 (2) (211 SE2d 639).

Judgment affirmed.

Bell, C. J., Webb, Smith, Shulman and Birdsong, JJ., concur. Deen, P. J., and Banke, J., concur specially. McMurray, J., dissents.