4th DCA: Florida Business Can Be Liable for On-Premises Attack

Florida property owners owe a duty of care to protect invitees from third-party criminal attacks – where the assault was reasonably foreseeable. This principle was affirmed recently by the Fourth District Court of Appeal’s reversal of summary judgment favoring a Florida business owner accused of negligence in an injury lawsuit.

As our South Florida injury lawyers can explain, key issues in these types of premises liability cases are:

• Reasonable foreseeability of the attack.
• Duty of care the property owner owed to the plaintiff (designation of invitee, licensee or trespasser, depending on the plaintiff’s purposes on-site). Age and special relationships can also be factors.
• Whether the defendant property owner’s actions proximately caused the plaintiff’s injuries.

The defendant in Bryan v. Galley Maid Marine Products, Inc. argued it owed no duty of care to the plaintiff, who was on-site drinking with the owner and three others when he was attacked, twice. He suffered a broken neck, nerve damage, and facial fractures. The defense asserted there was no way the property owner could have reasonably foreseen what would happen because it occurred suddenly and without provocation. Furthermore, the defendant argued the victim was a licensee rather than an invitee, meaning the only duty business owner owed was to refrain from wanton negligence, willful misconduct or intentional exposure to danger.

The court noted there were seventeen (17) minutes between the first attack, which left the plaintiff unconscious and with missing teeth, and the second attack, which resulted in another bout of unconsciousness and even more serious injuries. No one called 911, according to court records, because those present were reportedly afraid of the assailant (who was later arrested, convicted and sentenced to prison).

The trial judge had sided with the business owner, noting that while it was “extremely bothersome” from a moral standpoint that no one at the site sought help for the injured man, there was also lacking evidence that either the first or second attack was foreseeable. In the 4th DCA’s reversal, the panel noted that while the first attack may have taken everyone by surprise, the second act of aggression may have been different. The attacker taunted and threatened the injured man between the two attacks, and the owner testified in a deposition he was afraid for the victim’s safety.

Fort Myers Injury Lawyer for Premises Liability Claims

Where a property owner has reason to know an invitee is in danger, injured and helpless, it is not only common sense but basic human kindness to render aid and call for help.

In reversing the grant of summary judgment in favor of the business, the court of appeals found:

• The plaintiff was an invitee. He was expressly invited by the business owner.
• The first attack was not reasonably foreseeable. It happened shortly after the group of friends arrived and it caught everyone – including the victim – by complete surprise (despite evidence that the attacker had a long criminal history).
• There is conflicting evidence as to the foreseeability of the second attack, but that is a question of fact for the jury to decide – not a matter of law for the judge.
• There is conflicting evidence as to whether the business/property owner owed a duty to render or call for aid after the attacks. Again, that is a question for the jury.
• There is conflicting evidence as to whether the defendant’s failures could be considered the proximate cause of the plaintiff’s injuries. That is up to the jury to make that call.

As a dedicated South Florida injury lawyer can explain, the bottom line is that business owners in Florida can be held responsible for injuries sustained by a third-party criminal attack. To determine if you have a case, contact our experienced legal team.

If you are injured in Fort Myers, contact our injury attorneys at The Garvin Firm at 800.977.7017 for a free initial consultation.

Additional Resources:

Bryan v. Galley Maid Marine Products, Inc., Jan. 15, 2020, Florida’s 4th DCA