In NY premises liability, what is the general duty owed to entrants?

In NY premises liability, what is the general duty owed to entrants?

• A. No duty to any entrant
• B. Default duty for all entrants
• C. Duty only to licensees
• D. No duty to invitees unless there is dangerous condition

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that in New York premises liability, landowners owe a default duty of reasonable care to those who enter their property. This baseline obligation applies to all lawful entrants, not just one category. The owner must keep the premises reasonably safe and warn or repair known dangerous conditions. So if a property owner knows about a spill, a broken step, or another hazard, they should fix it or warn visitors to prevent harm. The focus isn’t on a special duty only to licensees or only to invitees; those classifications historically exist, but the overarching duty remains to entrants generally. That’s why the best answer is that the default duty is owed to all entrants. The other options don’t fit because it’s not a blanket “no duty” rule, it’s not limited to licensees, and invitees aren’t protected only if there’s a dangerous condition—the law imposes a general duty of reasonable care to maintain safe premises and address hazards for those who lawfully enter.

The main idea is that in New York premises liability, landowners owe a default duty of reasonable care to those who enter their property. This baseline obligation applies to all lawful entrants, not just one category. The owner must keep the premises reasonably safe and warn or repair known dangerous conditions. So if a property owner knows about a spill, a broken step, or another hazard, they should fix it or warn visitors to prevent harm. The focus isn’t on a special duty only to licensees or only to invitees; those classifications historically exist, but the overarching duty remains to entrants generally.

That’s why the best answer is that the default duty is owed to all entrants. The other options don’t fit because it’s not a blanket “no duty” rule, it’s not limited to licensees, and invitees aren’t protected only if there’s a dangerous condition—the law imposes a general duty of reasonable care to maintain safe premises and address hazards for those who lawfully enter.