Maryland Court Upholds $151,000 Award in Dog Shooting

Maryland’s second highest court has upheld most of a $151,000 jury award against a man sued by his neighbors for shooting two of their pet dogs.

Jeffrey Lynn Hurd of Williamsport was sued after shooting one family’s dog in 2007 and another neighbor’s dog 2008. In 2010, a Washington County Circuit Court jury ordered him to pay the families, a decision Hurd later appealed to the Maryland Court of Special Appeals.

The Herald-Mail of Hagerstown reports that a three-judge panel of the Court of Special Appeals issued an opinion on Jan. 24 upholding all but $6,000 of the award. The court also ruled Hurd must pay 90 percent of the cost of the appeal.