Premises Liability - Invitee Duty

Pronunciation: PREM-uh-sez ly-uh-BIL-uh-tee - in-VY-tee DOO-tee

Torts › Duty of Care

Definition

Land possessor owes invitees duty to inspect premises and make safe or warn of non-obvious dangerous conditions. Invitee enters for purpose related to possessor's business or for mutual benefit. Highest duty owed. Includes duty to discover hidden dangers through reasonable inspection. This is the traditional (majority) approach tested on the MBE. CALIFORNIA abolished the entrant categories in Rowland v. Christian (1968): every possessor owes reasonable care under the circumstances (Civ. Code § 1714), and the entrant's status is only one factor in that analysis.

Related terms

• Duty of Care — A legal obligation to exercise reasonable care to avoid causing harm to others. The duty of care is…
• Premises Liability — A landowner's or occupier's liability for injuries occurring on their property. The duty of care owed depends on…
• Licensee — Person who enters land with possessor's permission for licensee's own purpose, not for possessor's benefit. Social guests are…

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