Premises Liability Session II

1) Duty Special Circumstances
a) Minors
i) Elevated duty to trespassers
ii) Attractive nuisance
iii) Condition and elevated risk to children
b) Disabled
i) Physically or mentally challenged
ii) Actual knowledge by occupier
c) Governmental Immunity
2) Breach of Duty
a) Claimant’s knowledge of
condition
b) Absence of knowledge as
defense
3) Open and Obvious Defense
a) Two prong analysis
i) Knowledge of condition
(1) Actual
(2) constructive
ii) Appreciation of the risk
b) Requirement of both
elements
4) Quiz – Reinforcing Part 1 Materials
a) 5 multiple choice
questions
b) 4 choices per question
c) A second quiz if less than 80%
score on first quiz

1) Two elements
a) Knowledge of Condition
b) Appreciation of the risk
i) actual
ii) constructive
2) Successful Defense
a) No duty to warn
b) Judge decides duty
3) Example Scenario
4) Exceptions to Open and Obvious
a) 2 prevalent exceptions
i) distractions
ii) deliberate encounter
b) Distraction Exception
i) Recognize hazard
ii) Appreciate risk
iii) But, was distracted
iv) Owner/occupier should have anticipated
distraction
v) examples
c) Deliberate Encounter
Exception
i) Recognize hazard
ii) Appreciate risk
iii) But, weighed risk and took it
iv) Owner/occupier should have anticipated the risk
taker
v) examples
d) Emerging Issues
i) Comparative fault
ii) Uncertainty potential
5) Quiz – Reinforcing Part 2 materials
a) 5 multiple choice
questions
b) 4 choices per question
c) A second quiz if less than 80%
score on first quiz

1) Notice Defense
a) No actual notice
b) No constructive notice
c) No duty
2) Slip and Fall Scenarios
a) Issues
i) classify entrant
ii) duty
iii) defenses
b) Peculiar attributes
i) Natural Accumulation Rule
ii) Signage
iii) Warnings
iv) foreseeability
3) Natural Accumulation Rule
a) sources
i) ice
ii) snow
iii) water/rain
b) rule
i) no duty to entrant
ii) who slips and falls
iii) on natural elements
c) Reasoning behind Rule
d) Important questions
i) Identify source
ii) Determine if source element is natural
iii) Determine was accumulation natural
iv) Was accumulation man made/artificial
e) Examples
i) Tracked in water
ii) Roof run off
iii) Film left after shoveling
iv) Leaky gutter
v) Downspout
vi) Piled snow in lot melting
f) Contracts
i) Agreements to remove
ii) Indemnity/insurance agreements
g) Ingress/egress areas
i) Mats
ii) Warnings
h) Notice defense
4) Owner Occupier creates hazard
a) Immediate notice
b) Examples
i) grape
ii) floral shop
c) Notice in self checkout
areas
5) Should have known
a) Length of time in existence
b) Volume or magnitude of
spill
c) Presences in the area
6) Quiz – Reinforcing Part 3 materials
a) 5 multiple choice
questions
b) 4 choices per question
c) A second quiz if less than 80%
score on first quiz

1) Company Creation of Policies and Procedures Manuals
a) Lofty Goals
b) Aisle and Floor
Maintenance
c) Reporting Procedures
d) Checklists
2) Weaknesses
a) enforcement
i) immature staff
ii) overworked staff
iii) frequent turnover in industry
b) records retention
i) forms not kept for practical reasons
ii) forms lost due to innocent reasons
iii) spoliation/inference of wrongdoing
3) Plaintiff Attorney Tactics
a) Focus Case on
Procedures
b) De-emphasize core facts
c) Seek inference of
wrongdoing
4) Practice Tips
a) Act Early
b) Don’t wait until
discover/trial
c) Get Policies and Procedures
ASAP
d) Interview Employees
ASAP
e) Get Statements where
appropriate
f) Collect paperwork ASAP
g) Document that procedures
were followed
5) Quiz – Reinforcing Part 4 materials
a) 5 multiple choice
questions
b) 4 choices per question
c) A second quiz if less than 80%
score on first quiz

1) Old Rule
a) No liability
b) reasoning
2) Modern View
a) Liability
b) Practical Issues at Trial
i) Violent crimes/serious injuries
ii) Sympathetic plaintiff/victim
iii) Functionally absent wrongdoer
iv) Premises owner as pocket for recovery
v) Jury response
3) Circumstances creating Duty
a) Special Relationship with
Criminal
b) Knowledge of the Crime before
Injury
c) Special Relationship with
Victim
4) Special Relationship with Criminal
a) Hiring
b) Examples
i) Bouncer
ii) Security guard
c) Background checks
5) Knowledge of the Crime before Injury
a) Warning of Possible Crime
b) Actual or constructive
knowledge
c) Threats
d) Modes of communication of
threat
6) Special Relationship with Victim
a) Providing Security
b) Two elements required
i) Relationship, and
ii) foreseeability
c) Example Relationships
i) Business invitor-invitee,
ii) Innkeeper -guest
iii) School-pupil
iv) Hospital patient
v) Carrier-passenger
d) Relevant Relationships
established by Law
7) Quiz – Reinforcing Part 5 materials
a) 5 multiple choice
questions
b) 4 choices per question
c) A second quiz if less than 80%
score on first quiz