DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 784 Original 2024 Regular Session Schamerhorn
Abstract: Provides for liability for damages caused by livestock that escape an enclosure.
Present law provides that the owner of an animal is answerable for the damages caused by an animal
upon showing that he knew or in the exercise of reasonable care should have known that the animal
would cause damage.
Proposed law extends present law to include livestock.
Present law provides that the owner of a dog is strictly liable for injuries caused by the dog which
the owner could have prevented and which did not result from provocation of the dog.
Proposed law retains present law.
Proposed law provides that the owner of livestock is strictly liable for damages caused by livestock
that escape an enclosure, and the owner could have prevented the escape by an exercise of reasonable
care.
Proposed law does not apply to a fortuitous event, cases in which the livestock escape by no fault
of the owner, and third party provocation of the livestock.
(Amends C.C. Art. 2321)