Skip to main content
DRAFT FOR ATTORNEY REVIEW — NOT FINAL

Labarbera v. Malec, 540 S.W.3d 903 (2018)

Citation
Labarbera v. Malec, 540 S.W.3d 903 (2018)
Parent Document
Labarbera v. Malec, 540 S.W.3d 903 (2018)
Jurisdiction
Missouri (state)
Effective Date
2018-03-06

Full Text

948 chars
The retention of control by the landlord is an essential element of liability. Fitzpatrick v. Ford , 372 S.W.2d 844, 850 (Mo. 1963). This is because the foundation *908of the landlord's duty is premised on his retention of control. Dean v. Gruber , 978 S.W.2d 501, 504 (Mo. App. W.D. 1998). Without sufficient evidence of the landlord's control, the landlord cannot be held liable in tort for negligently failing to make repairs. Woods v. Gould , 515 S.W.2d 592, 596 (Mo. App. W.D. 1968) ; see also Nenninger v. Trustees of Oran Life Tabernacle Church , 789 S.W.2d 530, 535 (Mo. App. S.D. 1990) ; Dean , 978 S.W.2d at 505. " 'Determination of whether the amount of control a landowner exerts is sufficient to incur liability turns largely on the extent to which the landowner permits the tenant to treat the premises as belonging to the tenant.' " Dean , 978 S.W.2d at 505 (quoting Richeson v. Sprinco, Inc. , 931 S.W.2d 507, 509 (Mo. App. 1996) ).