Milwaukee Premises Liability Law Blog

Wausau, Wisconsin, is putting negligent landlords on notice. A proposed city ordinance would allow renters to get money back from landlords if the landlord does not properly maintain the property.

In addition to the proposed city sanctions, negligent landlords are also putting themselves at risk of premises liability lawsuits.

Wisconsin nursing homes and assisted living facilities have a legal responsibility to keep their residents safe. When family members decide to transition the care of an elderly loved one to one of these facilities, it is because they believe the care their loved one would receive is better than what they could provide for them from their homes.

Sadly, when staff members are not properly trained, or facilities are understaffed, it is difficult to prevent broken bones, fractures or head injuries that occur because an elderly resident fell down. Such falls often lead to liability lawsuits.

Wisconsin landlords are responsible for maintaining their rental properties. However, when a negligent landlord fails to maintain a rental home properly, accidents can happen. Prior to renting property to tenants it is a landlord's responsibility to ensure the safety of the property. It is also their responsibility to keep rental units up to code by maintaining running water, electricity and a working heat source -- especially in our state's harsh winters.

A landlord in Columbus, Ohio, did not ensure that the property he was renting met up to these standards, demonstrating the importance of proper maintenance in order to avoid tragic results and potential premises liability lawsuits.

Unfortunately, accidents can happen any time in Wisconsin buildings. Often older buildings require greater care as they age and with that increase in care come an increase in the cost of building upkeep. Unfortunately, in an effort to cut costs, building owners are not always as vigilant as they should be in maintaining their property. It is when that happens that accidents can occur. Sometimes, those accidents can even lead to the death of building occupants.

A recent New York City elevator accident emphasizes the need for certain elevators to be properly maintained to avoid premises liability lawsuits.