SINGAPORE, Dec. 12 -- A Singapore District Court has dismissed a suit filed after a man fell and suffered a traumatic brain injury after he was startled by a neighbour's corgi, ruling there was no negligence or breach of condo rules.

The man, Tan Kut Fai, who has since died, and his daughter, Tan Shuh Lin, had sued neighbour Loong Kai Jun Matthew over how he handled the dog and for allegedly violating condo regulations.

Judge Samuel Wee said in his ruling yesterday that there is no universal guideline or classification in Singapore for "small dogs", news outlet CNA reported today.

"I therefore have difficulty seeing how the defendant could have breached his duty to Mr Tan merely because the corgi barked (without lunging towards Mr Tan)...