As property owners, can we be held liable? *RESOLVED, THANKS MAMAS!*

[mommypockets]

My husband was viciously attacked by our neighbor's unsocialized dog. Dog got out and attack occurred on our property. Neighbor's father owns the property where dog lives, so we pressured his homeowner's insurance for ambulance/hospital bills since neighbor didn't even offer to pay. Insurance company said they were not responsible since it was tenant's dog and not owner's dog.

Tried to sue neighbor for the ambulance/hospital bills in small claims court, but she never would sign for the letter to rectify the problem, or we would sue her, so we could never get damages recovered!

[l_Kimmie_l]

You may want to ask if you can be fined for not having insurance too. Some states do that. While you do not have to have insurance on a paid for, unoccupied property, in most states you do if you actually rent it out. It is to protect you from your renters.

[mommajewels]

Alright.. Dh just called me back after getting off the phone with our attorney and it looks like I jumped the gun a bit.

Dh said the attorney literally laughed and said the Preacher does not have a leg to stand on if he is attempting to come after us because it was not our animal. He reassured Dh that in MO and especially our area, we are not required by law to carry any sort of insurance and the owner of the animal is the one held accountable for said animal. He said to tell the guy we have contacted our attorney and there are no laws in Missouri that are going to back him up if he is attempting to come after us, and he is welcome to contact him if he has any further questions but there is no need to discuss the matter with us any further.

Thank. Friggin. Gravy!

Thank you for the feedback ladies. It helped to be able to panic out loud until Dh got ahold of the attorney!

[mommajewels]

Oh, and I did tell Dh we need to have a discussion about the renters and the decisions we have made as property owners & landlords, because this was too close for comfort.

[CuriousElephant]

Originally Posted by mommajewels Alright.. Dh just called me back after getting off the phone with our attorney and it looks like I jumped the gun a bit. Dh said the attorney literally laughed and said the Preacher does not have a leg to stand on if he is attempting to come after us because it was not our animal. He reassured Dh that in MO and especially our area, we are not required by law to carry any sort of insurance and the owner of the animal is the one held accountable for said animal. He said to tell the guy we have contacted our attorney and there are no laws in Missouri that are going to back him up if he is attempting to come after us, and he is welcome to contact him if he has any further questions but there is no need to discuss the matter with us any further. Thank. Friggin. Gravy! Thank you for the feedback ladies. It helped to be able to panic out loud until Dh got ahold of the attorney!

You may want to consider making changes now to avoid any future issues - evicting the people that are there and/or insuring the property you do have.

[l_Kimmie_l]

Glad to hear the law is on your side where you are at. Landlords here get the screws. It is awful.

[l_Kimmie_l]

DP

[supermansmomma]

Great news for you, but I sort of feel bad for the preacher

Sent from my iPhone using DS Forum

[Kiliki]

yay, glad it is not going to land in your lap.

[JeDeeLenae]

Originally Posted by supermansmomma Great news for you, but I sort of feel bad for the preacher Sent from my iPhone using DS Forum

Why feel bad? He can legally go after the animal owners and win.

Sent from my iPhone using DS Forum