Montgomery v. Royal Motel
Supreme Court of Nevada
645 P.2d 968 (1982)
Helen and Kenneth Montgomery (plaintiffs) were assaulted and robbed in their room at the Royal Motel (defendant) by an unknown assailant, even though their room door had a working, non-self-locking deadbolt as required by the local Las Vegas ordinance governing motels with individual entrances. The trial court found the motel had satisfied its duty of care as a matter of law by complying with the ordinance and dismissed the suit; the Montgomerys appealed, arguing the ordinance set only a minimum standard that didn't automatically foreclose liability for failing to provide additional security.
Whether compliance with a statute setting a minimum standard of care precludes a negligence claim absent special circumstances warranting additional safety measures.