ASHLAND —
Landlords in Kentucky now have an added reason to bar tenants from having pets. A new Kentucky Supreme Court ruling says landlords can be liable if their tenants’ dogs bite people.
The Kentucky Enquirer reported the opinion won’t help a Newport family after a child wearing a lion costume was mauled by a boxer in July 2009. The court ruled the dog was too far from the rental property for the landlord to be liable in that case. The dog’s owner was found liable. However, there are incidents in which the landlord could be held at least partially liable for the actions of pets kept on rental property, the Supreme Court said.
Greater Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Apartment Association attorney Jeffrey Greenberger called the opinion “scary” and said he knows of no other case where the landlord is treated as though he owns the tenant’s pet.
Stan Billingsly of Carrollton is a retired judge who owns rental property. He said in light of the ruling, he is re-evaluating his policy of renting to dog owners.
We suspect other landlords will be doing the same. As renters know, many landlords already ban pets from their property, making it more difficult for those with pets to find places to rent. The ruling for the state’s highest court is sure to make it that much more difficult.
Pet owners should be held responsible for the actions of the animals they have, not the owner of the rental property where the pets live. That’s the way we assumed it was in Kentucky — that is until the Supreme Court ruled differently.
Opinion
No pets allowed
Ruling likely to more it more difficult for renters with dogs
- Opinion
-
-
In Your View
Letters to the editor
-
Resentencing
The U.S. District Court of Appeals has rightly ruled that even those sentenced for crack cocaine violations before the approval of a 2010 law that restored a bit of sanity and fairness to federal sentencing laws can be resentenced under the 2010 law.
-
It's the law
On Jan. 22, Greenup County voters — or at least those who took time to cast ballots in the special referendum — rejected a proposal that would have allowed the legal sale of alcohol in the county by a rather convincing margin of 4,872-3,830.
-
In Your View
Letters to the editor
-
Retiring
As members of the Ashland Board of City Commissioners look for a replacement for retiring City Manager Stephen W. Corbitt, they should seek someone just like Corbitt.
-
In Your View
Letters to the editor
-
On the increase
It’s certainly good news that a new report by Kentucky’s Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet has found the economic impact of tourism grew by 5.2 percent in eastern Kentucky in 2012, outpacing the overall statewide growth rate. However, we would be more excited bout the report if we had more confidence in how tourism spending is calculated by state government.
-
After the crash
Like thousands of other Kentuckians, we remember well May 14, 1988, when a drunken driver traveling the wrong way on Interstate 71 near Carrollton struck a church bus returning home to Radcliff after day at King’s Island, causing one of he most deadly vehicle accidents in this nation’s history. The horrific crash killed 27, many of them teenagers, and injured 34 others.
-
High price tage
Much has been said and written about the rapid and dramatic decline of air passenger service at the Cincinnati-Northern Kentucky International Airport. Much less has been said and written about the tremendous economic impact the loss of air service has had on the entire region.
-
Return of pencils
It is a question asked by all of us whose lives and jobs are dependent on computers with email and Internet access, fax machines, cellphones and other other electronic essentials of this modern age: What do you do when the electronic devices fail?
- More Opinion Headlines
-
In Your View
Sheriff: No Sign Killing of 2 Kids Was Planned
Obama Defends Drone Strikes, With Limits
Raw: Jurors Deadlock on Jodi Arias Penalty
Boy Scouts Decision "First Step" Say Activists
Raw: Utah Teen Arrested in Death of His Brothers
Closer Look at Okla. School Where Children Died
Two Suspects in Murder Known to London Police
Boy Scouts Mom Supports Gay Inclusiveness
"Be Ready": NOAA Warns of Busy Hurricane Season
SeaWorld: Penguins Are Coolest Thing in Florida
Obama Renews Call to Close Gitmo
Obama Offers Drone Strike Defense
Raw: Heckler Interrupts Obama on Guantanamo
A Slice of Apple History Up for Grabs
