Dictionary of Law
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invitee :: legal definition


Invitee - n. a person who comes onto another's property, premises or business establishment upon invitation. The invitation may be direct and express or "implied," as when a shop is open and the public is expected to enter to inspect, purchase or otherwise do business on the premises. It may be legally important, because an invitee is entitled to assume safe conditions on the property or premises, so the owner or proprietor might be liable for any injury suffered by the invitee while on the property due to an unsafe condition which is not obvious to the invitee (a latent defect) and not due to the invitee's own negligence. An invitee is distinguished from a trespasser who cuts across the owner's vacant lot, a person who comes into the store to use the bathroom (although a clever lawyer will claim this is a goodwill aspect to the business in which the public is implicitly invited), or a burglar who falls through a faulty skylight. Examples of failures unexpected by an invitee: a person falls through a covered-over well, faulty stairs, weak floors, slippery floors on rainy days (a favorite), spills of jam which are not promptly cleaned up although known to the management, lack of adequate security guards to protect against muggers, and various careless acts of retail employees.

See also: negligence and Related Law Terms ↓


Related Law Terms

abeyance :: 1) n. when the owner- ship of property has not bee ... 2) legal jargon for "undetermined."
acknowledgment :: n. the section at the end of a document where a no ... me leases and various other papers.
after-acquired property :: n. 1) personal or real property acquired by a debt ... lso: bankruptcy secured transaction
assign :: 1) v. to transfer to another person any asset such ... en shows up in contracts and wills.
attractive nuisance doctrine :: n. a legal doctrine which makes a person negligent ... ch make negligence harder to prove.
bailor :: n. a person who leaves goods in the custody of ano ... is found. See also: bailee bailment
bankruptcy :: n. a federal system of statutes and courts which p ... y proceedings trustee in bankruptcy
Bill of Rights :: n. the first ten amendments to the federal Constit ... ved to the states or to the people.
business invitee :: n. a person entering commercial premises for the p ... to the contrary. See also: invitee
chain of title :: n. the succession of title ownership to real prope ... title conveyance foreclosure title
chattel :: n. an item of personal property which is movable, ... ments). See also: personal property
commingling :: n. the act of mixing the funds belonging to one pa ... rust accounts for funds of another.
condemn :: v. 1) for a public agency to determine that a buil ... condemnation action eminent domain
condemnation :: n. the legal process by which a governmental body ... eminent domain inverse condemnation
condemnation action :: n. a lawsuit brought by a public agency to acquire ... e also: condemnation eminent domain
condition precedent :: n. 1) in a contract, an event which must take plac ... o the property. See also: condition
condition subsequent :: n. 1) in a contract, a happening which terminates ... Dad Fauntleroy. See also: condition
condominium :: n. title to a unit of real property which, in real ... ium projects. See also: common area
conflict of interest :: n. a situation in which a person has a duty to mor ... a position adverse to the customer.
constructive notice :: n. a fiction that a person got notice even though ... personally. See also: constructive
contractor :: n. 1) a person or entity that enters into a contra ... actor mechanic's lien subcontractor
corporation :: n. an organization formed with state governmental ... ation public corporation securities
d.b.a. :: n. short for "doing business as," when a person or ... that is registered with the state.
descent :: n. the rules of inheritance established by law in ... on inheritance intestate succession
devisee :: n. a person who receives a gift of real property b ... will. See also: beneficiary legatee
easement :: n. the right to use the real property of another f ... rstandings at the time of creation.
eminent domain :: n. the power of a governmental entity (federal, st ... ngs. See also: condemn condemnation
fair comment :: n. a statement of opinion (no matter how ludicrous ... amation libel public figure slander
fiduciary :: 1) n. from the Latin fiducia, meaning "trust," a p ... lation fiduciary relationship trust
foreclosure sale :: n. the actual forced sale of real property at a pu ... dicial sale mortgage sheriff's sale
franchise :: 1) n. a right granted by the government to a perso ... on property, income or profits tax.
fraud :: n. the intentional use of deceit, a trick or some ... audulent conveyance intrinsic fraud
future interest :: n. a right to receive either real property or pers ... maturity (age 18) or upon marriage.
general partner :: n. 1) usually one of the owners and operators of a ... ted partnership partner partnership
grandfather clause :: n. 1) a clause in a statute or zoning ordinance (p ... Such laws are now unconstitutional.
hearsay rule :: n. the basic rule that testimony or documents whic ... interest dying declaration hearsay
hit and run :: n. the crime of a driver of a vehicle who is invol ... , and then walks back to the scene.
impute :: v. 1) to attach to a person responsibility (and th ... also. See also: vicarious liability
in personam :: adj. (in purr-soh-nam) from Latin for "directed to ... here. See also: in rem jurisdiction
incompetency :: n. the condition of lacking the ability to handle ... and/or represented by an attorney.
incorporate :: v. 1) to obtain an official charter or articles of ... te by reference incorporation stock
indenture :: n. a type of real property deed in which two parti ... bind a person to work for another.
indispensable party :: n. a person or entity which must be included in a ... tion to join Olivia as a defendant.
insolvency :: n. 1) the condition of having more debts (liabilit ... the property. See also: bankruptcy
interest :: n. 1) any and all, partial or total right to prope ... nal property real property standing
invasion of privacy :: n. the intrusion into the personal life of another ... randeis. See also: right to privacy
inverse condemnation :: n. the taking of property by a government agency w ... e also: condemnation eminent domain
jurat :: (jur-at) n. Latin for "been sworn," the portion of ... wledgment declaration notary public
just compensation :: n. 1) in general a fair and reasonable amount of m ... ation make one whole quantum meruit
laches :: n. the legal doctrine that a legal right or claim ... , breach of contract, fraud, etc.).
lease :: 1) n. a written agreement in which the owner of pr ... triple net lease unlawful detainer
legatee :: n. a person or organization receiving a gift of an ... eficiary devise devisee legacy will
leverage :: 1) n. the use of borrowed money to purchase real e ... e been created by risky leveraging.
liability :: n. one of the most significant words in the field ... bility joint tortfeasors negligence
libel :: 1) n. to publish in print (including pictures), wr ... libel per se public figure slander
life estate :: n. the right to use or occupy real property for on ... hter, Sadie, will own the property.
literary property :: n. the writings of an author which entitles him/he ... as copyrighted. See also: copyright
living trust :: n. sometimes called an inter vivos (Latin for "wit ... thrift clause trust trustee trustor
Massachusetts Trust :: n. a business in which the investors give manageme ... provide for eventual distribution.
mechanic's lien :: n. the right of a craftsman, laborer, supplier, ar ... ll sue for the debt. See also: lien
merger :: n. 1) in corporate law, the joining together of tw ... and taking one, and wife the other.
monopoly :: n. a business or inter-related group of businesses ... ust laws license restraint of trade
mortgage :: n. a document in which the owner pledges his/her/i ... losure notice of default trust deed
negligence :: n. failure to exercise the care toward others whic ... gence per se res ipsa loquitur tort
notary public :: n. a person authorized by the state in which the p ... he state which appoints the notary.
notice :: n. 1) information, usually in writing in all legal ... Thirty-day notice three-day notice
notorious possession :: n. occupation of real property or holding personal ... e is as if the person is the owner.
nuisance :: n. the unreasonable, unwarranted and/or unlawful u ... evening). See also: public nuisance
pardon :: 1) v. to use the executive power of a Governor or ... also: amnesty commutation reprieve
permit :: 1) v. to allow by silence, agreement or giving a l ... f public revenue. See also: license
personal effects :: n. things which include clothes, cosmetics and ite ... e, Susannah"). See also: personalty
pledge :: v. to deposit personal property as security for a ... ise to do something. See also: pawn
pour over will :: n. a will of a person who has already executed a t ... invalid trust. See also: trust will
private road :: n. a road or driveway on privately owned property, ... ng. See also: prescriptive easement
product liability :: n. the responsibility of manufacturers, distributo ... e known. See also: warrant warranty
promissory note :: n. a written promise by a person (variously called ... lso: interest obligee obligor usury
property :: n. anything that is owned by a person or entity. P ... rty real property separate property
property damage :: n. injury to real or personal property through ano ... l value. See also: damages property
real property :: n. 1) all land, structures, firmly attached and in ... onal property real estate reversion
restraint on alienation :: n. an attempt in a deed or will to prevent the sal ... enant rule against perpetuities use
restrictive covenant :: n. 1) an agreement included in a deed to real prop ... o: covenant that runs with the land
resulting trust :: n. a trust implied by law (as determined by a cour ... See also: constructive trust trust
search and seizure :: n. examination of a person's premises (residence, ... robable cause search search warrant
self-defense :: n. the use of reasonable force to protect oneself ... ndalism. See also: assault homicide
service of process :: n. the delivery of copies of legal documents such ... by publication substituted service
statute of limitations :: n. a law which sets the maximum period which one c ... ies. See also: demurrer laches toll
straw man :: n. 1) a person to whom title to property or a busi ... a trail will mislead hunting dogs).
subject to :: adj. referring to the acquisition of title to real ... : assumption deed of trust mortgage
tenancy in common :: n. title to property (usually real property, but i ... on. See also: joint tenancy tenancy
theft :: n. the generic term for all crimes in which a pers ... rglary embezzlement larceny robbery
title :: n. 1) ownership of real property or personal prope ... ink slip real property title search
title insurance :: n. a policy issued by an insurance company guarant ... : chain of title title title search
transfer :: n. 1) the movement of property from one person or ... son or shipment to continue travel.
trespass :: n. entering another person's property without perm ... for an illegal purpose is a crime.

Popular Law Searches

legal definition ministerial act :: n. an act, particularly of a governmental employee ... exercising any individual judgment.
chancery legal definition :: n. a court that can order acts performed. Today ch ... ts in most states. See also: equity
testamentary disposition legal definition :: n. how the terms of a will divide the testator's ( ... named beneficiaries. See also: will
contract of sufferance :: n. a "hold-over" tenancy after a lease has expired ... y tenancy at will unlawful detainer
forthwith legal definition :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
forthwith definition legal :: adv. a term found in contracts, court orders and s ... mediacy, with no excuses for delay.
what is to wit in a legal contract :: prep. that is to say. Example: "the passengers in ... tty Bumgartner and Sherry Younger."
mirror wills legal definition :: n. the wills of a husband and wife which are ident ... d each names the other as executor.
clean hands doctrine latin :: n. a rule of law that a person coming to court wit ... ices. See also: affirmative defense
sine qua non only relates to contract law :: (see-nay kwah nahn) prep. Latin for "without which ... qua non of the injury to Playmate.

Other Law Terms - I

i.e. :: prep. abbreviation for id est, which is Latin for ... "e.g.," which means "for example."
illegal :: 1) adj. in violation of statute, regulation or ord ... . See also: alien illegal immigrant
illegal immigrant :: n. an alien (non-citizen) who has entered the Unit ... ion date of a visa. See also: alien
illusory promise :: n. an agreement to do something that is so indefin ... he may have thought was a contract.
immaterial :: adj. a commonly heard objection to introducing evi ... ons. See also: irrelevant objection
immediately :: adv. 1) at once. 2) in orders of the court or in c ... oon as can be done" without excuse.
immunity :: n. exemption from penalties, payments or legal req ... ws. See also: governmental immunity
impanel :: v. to select and install a jury. See also: impanel ... l a jury. See also: impaneling jury
impaneling :: n. the act of selecting a jury from the list of po ... e juror jury panel venire voir dire
impeach :: v. 1) to discredit the testimony of a witness by p ... ve been found guilty by the Senate.
impeachment :: n. 1) discrediting a witness by showing that he/sh ... the trial itself. See also: impeach
impleader :: n. a procedural device before trial in which a par ... than having two suits in a series.
implied :: adj., adv. referring to circumstances, conduct or ... nt implied consent implied warranty
implied consent :: n. consent when surrounding circumstances exist wh ... aybe" or "later." See also: implied
implied contract :: n. an agreement which is found to exist based on t ... : contract express contract implied
implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing :: n. a general assumption of the law of contracts, t ... -long employment. See also: implied
implied warranty :: n. an assumption at law that products are "merchan ... er. See also: caveat emptor implied
impossibility :: n. when an act cannot be performed due to nature, ... cel) a contract. See also: contract
impotence :: n. the male's inability to copulate. Impotence can ... eans inability to produce children.
impound :: v. 1) to collect funds, in addition to installment ... cases. See also: forfeit forfeiture