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CSEET · Business Laws and Management · Introduction to Law

A statute penalises any person who "keeps a dog, cat, or other domestic pet" in a notified heritage building. Ravi keeps a pet python in the building. Applying the rule of ejusdem generis, which is the most likely outcome?

Ravi is likely not liable. Under ejusdem generis, the general words "other domestic pet" take their meaning from the specific words dog and cat, so they cover only similar domestic animals, and a pet python is not of that kind.

  1. ARavi is liable, because "other domestic pet" covers every animal kept by a person
  2. BRavi is not liable, because "other domestic pet" is read as animals of the same kind as dogs and cats, and a python is not that kindCorrect
  3. CRavi is not liable, because penal statutes never apply to animals
  4. DRavi is liable, because specific words are ignored when a general word follows

Explanation

Ejusdem generis means that general words following specific words are limited to things of the same kind (class) as the specific ones. Dogs and cats are common mammalian domestic pets, so the general phrase is read in that class and a python would likely fall outside it. The option saying specific words are ignored reverses the rule.

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