Crawford v. Buckner
Tennessee Supreme Court
839 S.W.2d 754 (1992)
Crawford (plaintiff) rented an apartment under a lease containing a broad exculpatory clause shielding landlord McKenzie (defendant) from liability for any injury to her person or property; when a fire in a neighboring unit forced Crawford to jump from her second-story window, she was injured landing on debris the landlord had allegedly negligently left on the ground, and she sued McKenzie for negligent maintenance of the fire alarm and premises. The trial court and court of appeals granted McKenzie summary judgment based on the exculpatory clause, and Crawford appealed.
Whether an exculpatory clause in a lease, which immunizes the landlord from liability for injury to the tenant's person or property, is void against public policy.