How these cases are evaluated
Illustrative scenarios showing what we look at and what the key questions are.
Shooting in an apartment parking lot
A resident is shot in the parking lot of a large complex. Police records show several armed robberies in the same lot over the prior year, and residents had complained in writing that the entry gate had been broken for months.
- Evidence
- Prior similar crimes, written complaints, work-order history, gate and lighting records.
- Key questions
- Whether the owner was on notice, whether repairs were reasonable, and how fault is divided with the shooter under Georgia’s current rules.
Fall in the produce section
A shopper slips on grapes in the produce aisle and fractures a wrist. Store video shows an employee stocking nearby for several minutes before the fall.
- Evidence
- Full video of the aisle, sweep logs, the incident report, the shopper’s shoes.
- Key questions
- Whether the store had constructive knowledge of the hazard and whether the shopper could have seen it.
Child bitten by a neighbor’s dog
A child is bitten while walking past a neighbor’s yard. The dog had escaped before, the county had cited the owner, and the county has a leash ordinance.
- Evidence
- Animal control records, prior citations, the leash ordinance, the owner’s homeowners policy.
- Key questions
- Whether the owner knew of the danger or violated the leash law, and whether the homeowners policy covers the bite.
Space heater fire
A space heater overheats and starts a fire, burning the owner. Other owners had reported similar overheating online.
- Evidence
- The heater itself (kept unaltered), purchase records, recall and complaint history.
- Key questions
- Whether the defect was in design or manufacturing, and the time limits for product claims.
Have a similar situation? A free case review is the only way to know how the law applies to yours.
Hurt on someone else’s property?
Free case review with Talal Perez Ghosheh. English or Spanish.