ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - A Maryland lawmaker says a compromise measure has been worked out to address a court ruling that pit bulls are an "inherently dangerous" breed.
Sen. Brian Frosh said Thursday that the bill creates a presumption that a dog owner should know whether his or her pet is likely to present a danger. That shifts the burden away from a victim to prove a dog had a propensity to be violent.
Maryland's highest court ruled last year that pit bulls are "inherently dangerous." The ruling made owners and landlords liable for pit bull bites.
Frosh, a Democrat, says the bill would only hold landlords liable if they know or should have known a dangerous dog was being housed on the landlord's property.