By KAYLA FARIA, Capital News Service
- GOVERNMENT
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Thursday, January 31
ANNAPOLIS - A bill meant to ease liability for pit bull dog owners and landlords was criticized by victims' families, dog advocates, attorneys and legislators Wednesday at a House Judiciary Committee hearing. The committee heard testimony on legislation that would override a decision by the state’s highest court that imposed “strict liability standards” on owners of “pure bred pit bulls” and landlords who rent to these dog owners. Sponsored by Delegate Luiz Simmons, D-Montgomery, the legislation mandates that evidence of a dog causing injury creates a “rebuttable presumption” that the owner knew or should have known that the dog had dangerous tendencies. While it reinstates common law that has been popularly referred to as the “one-bite” …
Six years after losing his reelection bid in District 21, attorney John Giannetti is vying for a spot on the Annapolis City Council.
Former College Park-area state Sen. John Giannetti is looking to reenter politics with a bid for the Annapolis City Council. Giannetti and three other candidates—Tracy McGranaghan, Jared Littmann and Arnold Smith—are competing for the Ward 5 seat, which was left vacant by the resignation of first-term Alderman Mathew Silverman. Because the 2013 election is less than a year away, the Annapolis Democratic Central Committee will pick a successor to fill the post. Giannetti represented District 21—which includes College Park, other parts of Prince George's County and Anne Arundel County—from 2003 to 2007. After one term, he was defeated in the 2006 Democratic primary by future state Sen. James Rosapepe. Giannetti later switched parties and ran…
