Case A Topic:

Occupiers Liability*

Background:

On the day before winter semester, Betty came to Henderson College to pay her student fees. Her boyfriend Yoshi came with her, as he was also interested in studying at the college.After he talked with Student Services and picked up some brochures, Betty showed him around the campus, andthey had lunch in the student lounge.That morning, there was a heavy snowfall. After the College staff cleared the front entrance at 8:00 a.m., it continued to snow through the day, and no one came out to clear the snow. As Yoshi and Betty had lunch, the snow turned to rain, and then froze, creating a layer of ice in front of the main entrance.On her way out the door, Betty slipped on the ice outside of the entrance. She grabbed on to Yoshi, and they both fell onto the hard concrete. Yoshi banging his head. He appeared to be breathing but unconscious.At that moment, Davinder, a mail carrier for Canada Post, walked up the stairway to deliver mail to the College. Turning to look at Yoshi and Chika, he also fell on the ice. Betty called an ambulance, and half an hour later, the three of them were warming up in the hospital. Betty had a broken wrist, Davinder had a broken kneecap, and Yoshi had a concussion.After receiving medical care, each of them contacted their lawyers for advice.Questions for Case A:

Consider the position of the three plaintiffs, Betty, Davinder, and Yoshi:

1. Discuss the law surrounding occupiers liability.
2. Explain which of the following categories applies to each of the three plaintiffs:

• invitee
• licensee
• occupier
• trespasser

Will the College be liable to pay damages to any of the plaintiffs for occupiers liability? Why or why not?