Every business is responsible for providing a safe environment for its customers and the surrounding community. When a business fails to meet those responsibilities, local officials can step in and determine its fate. That is the situation that the Louisville Manor Motel is dealing with, as the Metro Department of Codes & Regulations recently issued a notice to close, according to an article recently published in the Courier-Journal.
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The Motel Has a Lengthy Police File
The closure order is a notice of criminal activity nuisance. This is not the type of order that happens overnight but instead after a pattern of recurring problems. As reported by WHAS11, Sgt. Jordan Brown with the Shively Police Department reported that officers responded to over 200 calls for this “crime hotspot” in the past year alone.
“Our officers are pretty much there every day. 202 runs, we’re barely 202 days into the year. It’s at least once a day, maybe more,” Sgt. Brown told the news station. He added that officers have been making these volumes of runs for years now.
Sgt. Brown went on to describe some reasonable ways that the hotel could have prevented closure, such as “not taking cash payments, getting IDs from guests who are checking in, recording vehicle license plates, and increasing lighting in the parking lot.”
The Connection Between Negligent Security and Premises Liability Issues
This is the type of scenario that could also trigger a premises liability lawsuit as it relates to negligent security. Obviously, there is no business that can 100% prevent crimes from being committed on their premises. However, when there is a repeated pattern of crime, and no measures are taken to reduce that crime, then the property owner is being negligent. When you have a documented 200 police visits, there is clearly a problem that needs to be addressed.
A negligent security claim can also apply to other types of businesses and properties, such as the following:
- Retail stores
- Restaurants
- Bars and nightclubs
- Office buildings
- Apartment complexes
- Movie theaters
This Louisville Hotel Failed To Uphold Their Duty To Maintain Safe Premises
If a customer or resident of any of those properties is injured due to lax security, the property owner could be liable for the injuries. A property owner owes an invitee (customer or tenant) the following duty of care:
- Maintain their premises to a reasonable, safe standard
- Warn invitees about any known hazards
- Regular inspections
- Addressing any potential hazards
For example, if a restaurant or store regularly experiences car break-ins in its parking lot, it should improve the lighting, install surveillance cameras, hire security, and post warning signs to customers not to leave valuables in a car. If an apartment complex experiences recurring robberies, the property owner or management company should be proactive about improving security at access points into the building or hiring security.
Seeking Recourse if You Suffer Harm
If you or a loved one experiences losses or injury because of negligent security, you need to discuss what happened with the Thomas Law Offices. We have decades of experience with successfully litigating premise liability claims on behalf of our clients. Our attorneys recognize the sense of violation that can occur with these types of incidents. We will conduct a thorough investigation to determine who is responsible for the negligence.
We’ll also help you come up with a fair and reasonable number for your losses. At our initial case evaluation, you’ll learn a lot about what we can do to support your claim. Call to set up that consultation today.
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