San Francisco Dog Attack Case Lead To Murder Conviction
A San Francisco Chronicle story reports that a California appellate court has upheld the murder conviction of Marjorie Knoller, the owner of the large dogs that fatally attacked a San Francisco woman back in 2001.
California Supreme Court Upholds Conviction
The trial court judge had held that Knoller could not be convicted of murder, because there was no evidence that she intended to kill the woman her dog attacked. But the California Supreme Court held that for Knoller to be convicted of murder, as the jury intended, she need only have known that her dogs had attacked animals and humans before, and that she could not control them. Following that ruling, the case went back to the trial court, where the murder conviction was reinstated, resulting in an appeal which was decided in late August. Now Knoller will probably take her appeal back to the California Supreme Court, where she will have little chance of success, given the Court’s prior ruling in her case.
Bay Area Dog Owners Can Be Held Responsible for Dogs That Attack
The Knoller case is an extreme example, but those of us who handle dog bite injury cases in San Francisco and around the Bay Area often see people who have encouraged or allowed their dogs to be vicious or aggressive towards others.Those people do so with the knowledge that people or animals could be severely injured.
California Dog Bite Cases Are Often Settled As Insurance Claims
Despite this conduct, which the Knoller case showed can even result in a murder conviction, homeowner’s insurance usually covers dog attacks. Insurance never covers intentional acts, but the vast majority of California dog bite cases are treated as negligence, which qualifies for insurance coverage.
In my view, dog bite and attack incidents are almost always the fault of the dog owners. Even the pit bull, the breed I see most often in Bay Area dog bite cases, can be gentle, very nice pets if they are treated and trained properly. More criminal law enforcement might help deter people from this type of behavior, even in incidents without the tragic result of the Knoller case.
Talk To A Lawyer Experienced in Dog Attack Cases
If you or someone you know has been injured by a dog attack in the Bay Area, speak to one of the dog bite lawyers at Callaway & Wolf. Call now, or click to contact us.
Boone Callaway is a personal injury & medical malpractice lawyer in San Francisco who has been working with clients in the Bay Area for over 25 years. Mr. Callaway is one of only a few personal injury litigators in San Francisco who is a Super Lawyer, AV Rated and is also a member of ABOTA – American Board of Trial Advocates.
