RESPONSIBLE PARTIES: Can anyone else, other than the dog owner, under California law, be responsible for a dog bite to another that caused bodily injury?

The California dog bite statute imposes strict liability solely on the dog owner.

However, any person might be liable if he or she was negligent or maintained custody or control of the dog with knowledge that the dog was dangerous. This can include a landlord, for instance.  In cities with a "leash law," violation of the leash law constitutes a form of negligence too, and should not be overlooked.  The California dog bite victim can direct a legal claim to other possible defendants, including employers, companies, and dog breeders. It is even possible to make a legal claim against someone who negligently entrusted a dog to another person who could not control it, like a child. This analysis goes to reasonableness of the control.  Also, legal claims against people other than the dog owner might be crucial under certain circumstances, such as when the dog owner lacks insurance.  Therefore,  a good and experienced California dog bite lawyer needs to be retained to look at possible "other" defendants.