Residential Landlords Placed on Notice of Criminal Activity on Premises Liable for Attacks on Tenants and Guests Even Where Attack Takes Place in Open / Public Spaces Adjacent to Apartment / Dwelling

The Michigan Supreme Court ruled today in the case of Bailey v. Schaaf Opinion.07,.30.2013.144055 Opinion, that a residential landlord could be held liable to the guest of a tenant who was randomly attacked by an unknown criminal perpetrator who entered the property.  Tenants and guests at a barbecue held by one of the tenants were [...]

2-1 Court of Appeals Opinion Rules Landlord Not Liable to Tenant for Failure to Maintain Common Pathway to Access Trash Disposal

This is an interesting case if only for the colloquy between the majority opinion and Judge Shapiro's dissent. The facts are unremarkable. Plaintiff was a residential tenant living in an apartment owned by the defendant.  Several other tenants lived in separate apartments in the same structure.  A common area (driveway / pathway) was accessed by [...]