Strict Liability

Legal responsibility for harm caused regardless of fault or intent. A person or company can be held liable even if they were not careless.

What It Means

Strict liability means a person or company is responsible for damages even if they did nothing wrong or were not careless. Unlike negligence, which requires proving someone was at fault, strict liability only requires proving that harm occurred and was caused by the defendant’s product or activity.

Why It Matters

In Minnesota, strict liability applies in several common situations:

• Dog bites: Under Minn. Stat. 347.22, a dog owner is liable if their dog attacks or injures someone, regardless of whether the owner knew the dog was dangerous.
• Defective products: Manufacturers and sellers can be held liable for injuries caused by defective products, even if they were careful in making the product.
• Abnormally dangerous activities: People who engage in unusually hazardous activities (like storing explosives) can be liable for any resulting harm.

Example

A dog that has never bitten anyone before bites a mail carrier. Under Minnesota’s strict liability statute, the owner is responsible for the injuries even though they had no reason to think the dog was dangerous.