Roderick James secures acquittal in dangerous dogs prosecution.

Instructed by Jennifer Richardson of Blackfords LLP, Roderick acted for the owner of 3 large dogs, one of which had bitten the family cleaner while in the family home.

Offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act come with strict liability, offering little scope for owners to mount any defence once the incident and any consequent injuries are admitted or proved. This was a rare case where a defence was able to be advanced on the basis that, although in charge of the dog at the time, the owner’s actions had done nothing to cause the unfortunate events.