Last month, a young Philadelphia man was convicted of the brutal rape and murder of a young woman who lived in Philadelphia’s Northern Liberties neighborhood.
The man snatched the victim from her bike as she rode home from a night out with friends. She struggled, but was beaten, raped and eventually strangled with her own bra strap. She was just outside of her apartment complex when she was taken.
These cases are very common in a city like Philadelphia. In fact, Philadelphia’s murder rate is one of the highest in the country. In most instances, such crimes are solely the fault of the criminal defendant, the perpetrator.
However, there are occasions when another person or company could be held liable for injuries which result from crime.
The most common example is a landlord who knows that a door lock at an apartment complex is broken and that there have been complaints from tenants about it. Yet the landlord does nothing. If a tenant or guest is then victimized by crime, the laws of Pennsylvania would allow that victim to make a direct claim against the landlord. This is called a “negligent security” case.
In the recent rape-murder conviction in Philadelphia, the landlord could be held liable if he or she knew that there was the potential for this type of crime to occur and did nothing, then it certainly could be held liable. The basis of liability in these cases is knowledge of a danger and failure to take reasonable steps to protect others, such as providing warnings, better lighting, etc.
Related Legal Article: New Jersey Store & Business Liability for Crimes Committed Against Customers – What You Have to Prove
Have your case reviewed by our Philadelphia, Pennsylvania negligent security and landlord liability lawyers. Call (215) 399-9255. Our lawyers are available for a free, no obligation legal consultation, and can obtain special admission in other states, such as New York or Delaware, on a case by case basis.
Our attorneys serve victims in the following areas: Allegheny County, PA; Berks County, PA; Bucks County, PA; Chester County, PA; Delaware County, PA; Lehigh County, PA; Montgomery County, PA; Northampton County, PA: Philadelphia County, PA; Atlantic County, NJ; Burlington County, NJ; Camden County, NJ; Cumberland County, NJ; Gloucester County, NJ; Salem County, NJ; New Castle County, DE; he County, DE; Atlantic City, NJ; Philadelphia, PA; Pittsburgh, PA; Newark, NJ; Doylestown, PA; Media, PA; West Chester, PA; Norristown, PA; Camden, NJ; Wilmington, DE; Newark, DE; Georgetown, DE; and New Castle, DE. Our lawyers can obtain special admission in other states on a case by case basis.
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Published: June 9, 2012