Facts: A residential tenant rented a room on a property. The property contained steps with a functioning light located over the steps. The landlord advised the tenant to turn on the light before walking down the steps. The tenant was unable to find the light switch, proceeded down the steps in the dark and fell, injuring themselves.
Claim: The tenant sought money damages from the landlord, claiming the steps constituted a dangerous condition since the tenant was unable to locate the light and injured themselves falling down the steps.
Counterclaim: The landlord claimed the steps did not constitute a dangerous condition since a functional light was located over the steps.
Holding: A California court of appeals held the landlord was not liable for the tenant’s injuries since the steps did not constitute a dangerous condition as a functional light was located over the steps. [Ramirez-Castellon v. US Bancorp (2013) ___ CA4th___]
Related reading:
first tuesday Realtipedia, Volume 4 Property Management, Chapter 35 “Defective building components”
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