Hacker Murphy LLP Managing Partner John Harwick Secures $750,000 Settlement in Dog Attack Case
Hacker Murphy LLP is pleased to announce that Managing Partner John F. Harwick successfully obtained a $750,000 settlement on behalf of a client who suffered serious injuries as the result of a dog bite.
The settlement comes at a time of significant change in New York law governing dog bite and animal attack cases. In its landmark decision in Flanders v. Goodfellow, 44 N.Y.3d 57 (2025), the highest court in New York expanded the rights of injured victims by recognizing negligence claims against dog owners, in addition to traditional strict liability claims. The Court’s ruling eliminated a longstanding barrier that often prevented recovery unless a victim could establish that the owner knew or should have known of an animal’s dangerous propensities.
“The Court of Appeals recognized that dog owners must be held accountable when they fail to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable injuries,” said Harwick. “This decision has created important protections for victims and ensures that negligent conduct can no longer escape scrutiny simply because an animal had not previously attacked someone.”
The substantial settlement reflects both the severity of the client’s injuries and the broader legal avenues now available to victims under New York law. As a result of the Flanders decision, injured individuals may pursue compensation based not only upon proof of an animal’s vicious propensities, but also upon evidence that an owner failed to exercise reasonable care in controlling or restraining the animal.
Hacker Murphy LLP remains committed to advocating for individuals harmed by negligence and obtaining meaningful results for clients throughout New York.
About Hacker Murphy LLP
For decades, Hacker Murphy LLP has represented individuals and families in complex personal injury, medical malpractice, nursing home neglect and wrongful death litigation, achieving substantial results on behalf of clients across New York State.