Major Liability? Biden s Dog Bites Another Employee After Returning From Delaware Seclusion JONATHAN TURLEY
I previously wrote about the historical and legal perspectives of a biting incident involving one of the presidential pets, Major. Both Biden German Shepherds (Major and Champ) were previously whisked out of town. They were then quietly brought back. Now Major has bitten another person who reportedly required medical attention. In the prior column, I noted that under tort law a dog is afforded (at most) one free bite before strict liability applies. Major could now be treated as a known vicious animal for liability purposes.
Major was adopted in November 2018 from an animal shelter.
The latest incident involved a National Park Service employee who was bitten while on the White House South Lawn on Monday afternoon.
First lady Jill Biden s press secretary Michael LaRosa told CNN: Yes, Major nipped someone on a walk. Out of an abundance of caution, the individual was seen by WHMU and then returned to work.
Nipped is not how bites are addressed under the common law.
I think its time for Major to get representation.