Trentacost v. Brussel
Supreme Court of New Jersey
412 A.2d 436 (1980)
Relevant factsFree
Trentacost (plaintiff) was assaulted and robbed in her apartment building's stairway, which had an unlocked front entrance in a high-crime neighborhood, despite having previously reported to landlord Brussel (defendant) an attempted cellar break-in and repeated instances of strangers in the hallways; a jury found for Trentacost, with damages increased on retrial, and the Appellate Division affirmed.
IssueFree
Whether a landlord may be liable for a tenant's injuries caused by a third party's criminal conduct if the landlord failed to provide adequate security for the building's common areas.