M Civ JI 80.02 Dog Bite Statute - Burden of Proof

The plaintiff has the burden of proving:

(a) that the plaintiff [ was injured by / sustained damage from ] a dog bite,

(b) that the plaintiff was [ on public property / lawfully on private property ],

(c) that the biting was without provocation, and

(d) that the defendant was the owner of the dog.

Your verdict will be for the plaintiff if the plaintiff has proved all of those elements.

Your verdict will be for the defendant if the plaintiff has failed to prove any one of those elements.

History

Added February 1981. Amended September 2006, January 2020.