Who are the people or companies other than a defendant who can be held liable in a civil claim to a crime victim?
- A landlord who doesn’t provide adequate security measures, such as locks on doors or windows, and adequate lighting.
- Shopping malls or centers that don’t employ security guards or other safety measures despite that they profit from owning the shopping center, and the likelihood that a criminal will attack.
- Colleges that fail to provide adequate security for students or fail to notify students of campus assaults, leaving students vulnerable to becoming victims.
- Security companies who don’t have careful hiring practices or don’t provide sufficient training for their guards to prevent the crimes that they’re paid to prevent.
- People who allow minors to carry guns or other dangerous weapons when those weapons are likely to be used to hurt others.
- Child care centers, schools, churches, youth groups, and other non-profits who don’t check the background checks of employees or volunteers, and/ or just transfer workers to other locations following allegations of abuse.
- Tavern owners or social hosts who continue to serve alcohol to drunk patrons, and then allow the drunk patron to drive drunk and hurt innocent people and themselves.
- Banks with outdoor ATM Machines. Outdoor ATM machines in secluded, high crime areas can leave customers vulnerable to armed robbery and injury from violent crime. Proper security measures can ensure safety, so the failure to properly secure outdoor ATM machines can lead to liability.
- Owner’s of Private halfway houses who contract with the state to house criminals on early release. Whereas government has immunity, many half-way houses are privately owned, and therefore owe the public a duty to supervise dangerous residents on early release.
- Home associations/hotel complexes who have common areas which are shared by all the tenants. They have responsibility to keep the residents safe from known dangers and risks. Many home associations advertise their location as safe, secure, and under surveillance, giving the residents a false sense of safety if the common areas are ignored.
- Private landlords who rent homes and apartments subsidized by the Department of Housing and Urban Development and are in dangerous, high crime areas have a duty to take reasonable safety measures. When these private contractors reap lucrative profits from the HUD subsidy, they have potential liability of they take no steps to keep their tenants safe.
If you’ve been a victim of crime, and one of these groups are potentially responsible, click the “Request Consultation” button for a free case evaluation.