'Florida law, a Property Owner can be Held Liable for an Injury on Their Property'

Dear Editor,

There is a lot on business owners’ plates, especially as we fully adjust back from the pandemic restrictions. One thing that should not be top of mind is being accountable for unexpected visitors on our property. Should an intruder be eligible for financial compensation if they get injured while trespassing? The logical answer is no. However, under Florida law, a property owner can be held liable for an injury on their property, even if the injured party was trespassing at the time of the accident.

This obviously makes little sense. Property owners should not be held legally responsible for the health and safety of uninvited guests on their premises. Businesses already do everything they possibly can to keep their customers, employees, and assets safe. Any type of legal uncertainty, whether it is regulatory or legal, is bad for business and hampers economic growth. Lawmakers in Tallahassee must come together to eliminate bizarre wrinkles like this from our state’s legal code. A comprehensive tort reform package will not only modernize Florida’s outdated legal standards; it will make the state a more business-friendly environment.

Karen Cardenas