Liability to Business invitees. John went to Lisa's Market to pick up a few items for dinner. It was a rainy, windy day, and the wind had blown water through the door of Lisa's Market each time the opened. As john entered through the door, he slipped and fell in the approximately one-half inch of rainwater that had accumulated on the floor. The manager knew of the weather conditions but had not posted any sign to warn customers of the water hazard. John injured his back as a result of the fall and sued Lisa's for damages. Can Lisa's be held liable for negligence in this situation? Please Explain.

To determine if Lisa's Market can be held liable for negligence in this situation, we need to consider the legal principle of premises liability, specifically with regard to business invitees. Premises liability refers to the legal responsibility of property owners to maintain safe conditions for individuals who are legally allowed to be on their property.

In this case, John is considered a business invitee because he entered Lisa's Market as a customer. Business owners owe a duty of care to business invitees, which means they must take reasonable steps to ensure their premises are safe and free from any known hazards.

Lisa's Market had knowledge of the weather conditions, as the manager was aware that the wind had blown water through the door each time it opened. Additionally, there was approximately one-half inch of rainwater accumulated on the floor. Given this knowledge, Lisa's Market should have taken precautions to ensure customers' safety, such as posting warning signs or placing mats to absorb the water.

The failure of Lisa's Market to warn customers or address the water hazard could be seen as a breach of their duty of care to John as a business invitee. Furthermore, John suffered an injury to his back as a direct result of slipping and falling on the wet floor.

Based on these factors, it is likely that Lisa's Market can be held liable for negligence in this situation. However, it is important to note that liability can ultimately be determined by the specific laws and regulations of the jurisdiction in which the incident occurred.