TOV Injury and Safety Blog

Court interprets Equine Activity Liability Act to protect owner from negligence

Trina Beattie was injured when a horse being saddled by its owner startled and lifted her off the ground as she grasped its halter.  She missed several months of work and has continuing long-term physical ramificiations from the injuries she suffered.  Beattie and two companions alleged she'd been invited to defendant's home to ride a partially-broke horse, while defendant argued Beattie had invited herself.  Before reaching the factual discrepancies, however, the Court of Appeals upheld the dismissal of Beattie's case, based on its interpretation of the Equine Activity LIability Act.

Dogs running loose create 100K debt

In Lapeer County, Larry McDowell maintained a deer and elk farm.  His animals were consistently harrassed by the neighbors dogs (apparently 13 of them).  During the time period in question, he lost almost fifty percent of his animals, compared with an annual loss, normally, of only 2-3 percent.  The losses stopped when Defendant got rid of her dogs, and numerous witnesses testified to the invasion of his farm by Defendant's dogs during the time period in question.