When Dangerous Property Conditions Cause Harm

Property owners and managers have a legal duty to maintain reasonably safe conditions for visitors, customers, tenants, and the public. When they fail in that duty and someone is injured as a result, they can be held liable. Premises liability cases range from straightforward slip-and-fall incidents to complex, multi-party litigation involving government entities and large commercial properties.

Attorney Tobin Lanzetta has handled premises liability cases at every level of complexity, including his instrumental role in the Santa Monica Farmers Market litigation, where an elderly driver struck and killed or injured numerous people at the city’s weekly outdoor market. The City of Santa Monica and other defendants paid $21 million to settle those claims. That case required proving that the city’s failure to install adequate safety barriers contributed to the tragedy, a multi-party, government liability case that demanded both legal skill and significant resources.

Types of Premises Liability Cases

Our firm handles cases involving slip, trip, and fall injuries caused by wet floors, uneven surfaces, poor lighting, or debris, negligent security cases where inadequate security measures lead to assaults or other criminal acts, swimming pool accidents and drownings, elevator and escalator malfunctions, toxic exposure and hazardous material incidents on commercial or residential property, construction site accidents involving dangerous conditions, dog bites and animal attacks, and fires and structural collapses caused by code violations or poor maintenance.

Tobin recently represented a firefighter who was catastrophically injured in a massive explosion in Downtown Los Angeles, a multi-party case involving building owners, business operators, and the storage of hazardous materials. The case illustrates how property owners’ failure to maintain safe conditions and comply with fire safety codes can lead to devastating consequences, not just for the public, but for the first responders who put their lives on the line. Tobin was integral to resolving this complex, multi-defendant litigation.

Government Liability

When dangerous conditions exist on public property, such as roads, sidewalks, parks, public transit facilities, or government buildings, the responsible government entity may be liable. However, claims against government entities in California have special procedural requirements. You must typically file a government tort claim within six months of the incident, well before the standard statute of limitations expires. Missing this deadline can permanently bar your claim, making early legal consultation essential.

Tobin Lanzetta has extensive experience with government liability cases, including the Garcia v. MTA verdict ($13.82 million), the Mehdipour v. City of Santa Monica case ($2.6 million), the Ho v. City of Rancho Palos Verdes settlement ($9 million), the Saucedo v. LAUSD settlement ($3 million), and the Blood v. County of San Bernardino settlement ($3 million).

Free Consultation

If you’ve been injured due to dangerous property conditions or negligent security, contact Lanzetta Law for a free consultation. With offices in Downtown Los Angeles and Santa Fe, New Mexico, we represent clients in both California and New Mexico. We will investigate the circumstances of your injury and determine who is responsible.