Premises Liability

Premises Liability cases arise when someone is injured on real property and each case raises a question about whom controlled the property.  Regardless of whether you are a homeowner, a business owner, a landlord, a tenant, an independent contractor working on another's property, or simply a guest on the property, you have certain duties towards others who are on or may come onto the property.  If someone is injured as the result of a condition that you create or allow to exist, there is the potential for a claim.

The attorneys at Ward, Hocker & Thornton, PLLC (WHT) have handled Premises Liability cases filed against each of the types of people listed above.  The injuries have been as minor as a sprain and as serious as a fatality.  The claims have stemmed from slick floors (i.e., water spills, food spills, etc,), animals causing injury (i.e., dog bites, horse riding, etc.), weather-related conditions (i.e., water runoff, snow and ice, etc.), uneven walking surfaces (i.e., broken pavement, gravel lots, hillside walking paths, etc.), and criminal acts taking place on the property (i.e., fights at restaurants and bars, assaults at commercial property, drug-use at a party, etc.).  While each claim is related to something that happened while someone was on another's property, there may be differing duties depending on whether you owned, leased or were visiting the property. 

WHT has successfully defended cases involving all types of Premises Liability claims.  We have successfully had claims dismissed by showing that no duty was owed and we have tried and won cases in front of juries by explaining that the steps taken to keep the property safe were reasonable.  Please feel free to contact us if you have a Premises Liability claim or question.