Under PA Premises Law, to be an Invitee Requires an Invitation

The Pennsylvania Superior Court recently affirmed a trial court’s defense verdict after a resident in a townhome community brought an action against the homeowners association after she tripped and fell on branches located on the steps to a common area.

In Hackett v. Indian Kings Residents Association, 2018 PA Super 240, No. 3600 EDA 2017, Hackett appealed the jury verdict that declared IKRA was not negligent following a two-day trial.  Hackett claimed that, in January 2013, she fell on branches that were on the steps of a common area leading to her townhouse in the Indian King residential community, causing her to undergo three surgeries over the next two years.  The jury returned a verdict of “no negligence” on behalf of IKRA.  On appeal, Hackett raised the issue that the trial court erred in charging the jury that she was a licensee over her objection and assertion that she was an invitee with regard to the common area.

The Superior Court began its opinion by explaining the fundamental principle under tort law, that, in order for liability to be imposed upon a defendant, the plaintiff must first establish the presence of a duty incumbent on the defendant.  Pennsylvania, in adopting the Restatement (Second) of Tort’s approach, has established that a landowner’s duty toward a third party is dependent upon whether the third party is a trespasser, licensee or invitee.  Because Hackett was a resident of the residential community, neither party argued that she was a trespasser in this scenario.  Therefore, the court analyzed the difference between the designation as a “licensee” versus a “invitee.”

A licensee is a person who is privileged to enter or remain on the land by virtue of the landowner’s consent – the entrant is there for her own purposes and the landowner has no interest in the third party’s entrance onto the land.  Essentially, a licensee is present on the property by virtue of the permission of the landowner.  An invitee on the other hand, is basically divided into two sub-categories – a business invitee or a public invitee.  A business invitee in one who is invited to enter or remain on the land for a purpose directly or indirectly connected to the business dealings of the landowner.  A public invitee is one who is invited to enter or remain on the land as a member of the public for a purpose for which the land is held open to the public by the landowner.

Hackett argued that she was an invitee because IKRA’s is property manager who is responsible for keeping the common areas safely maintained.  Thus, her payment of maintenance fees to IKRA rendered her an invitee.

But the Superior Court concluded that Hackett was a licensee when she entered the common area.  First, the court noted that Hackett was not a business invitee who entered the common area for the purpose of conducting business with IKRA.  Second, the court determined that Hackett was not a public invitee and in so doing the court articulated the distinction between permission and invitation which helps to highlight the difference between licensee and invitee.  The court noted that permission is different (and lesser) than invitation in this context – an invitation is conduct which justifies others in believing that the landowner desires the entrant to enter the land, whereas permission is conduct justifying others in believing that the landowner is willing that the entrant may enter the land if the entrant desires to do so.

While the line between invitation and permission may seem like a fine one, the court explained that mere permission is sufficient to make a visitor a licensee, however it is not sufficient to make the visitor an invitee.  The court noted that IKRA granted all tenants permission to enter the common area as they pleased, however nothing in the tenants’ lease agreements could be interpreted as a specific invitation to use the common area.  Furthermore, the court stated that no particular fees or dues were paid by the residents in order to enable them to use the common area. Ultimately, when Hackett fell, she was in the common area because she had longstanding permission by IKRA to come and go as she pleased; but she was not present in the common area by virtue of any invitation or specific purpose connected to IKRA.  Therefore, she was properly designated as a licensee and the trial court verdict was affirmed. Thanks to Greg Herrold for his contribution to this post.  Please contact Brian Gibbons (on Twitter @bgibbons35) with any questions.