2022 Georgia Code
Title 51 - Torts
Chapter 3 - Liability of Owners and Occupiers of Land
Article 1 - General Provisions
§ 51-3-1. Duty of Owner or Occupier of Land to Invitee

Where an owner or occupier of land, by express or implied invitation, induces or leads others to come upon his premises for any lawful purpose, he is liable in damages to such persons for injuries caused by his failure to exercise ordinary care in keeping the premises and approaches safe.

History. Civil Code 1895, § 3824; Civil Code 1910, § 4420; Code 1933, § 105-401.

History of Code section.

The language of this Code section is derived in part from the decision in Atlanta Cotton-Seed Oil Mills v. Coffey, 80 Ga. 145 , 4 S.E. 759 (1887).

Law reviews.

For comment on Macon Tel. Publishing Co. v. Graden, 79 Ga. App. 230 , 53 S.E.2d 371 (1949), see 1 Mercer L. Rev. 130 (1949).

For comment criticizing Plante v. Lorraine Mfg. Co., 78 R.I. 505, 82 A.2d 893 (1951), holding no implied invitation to youths despite defendant’s excavation and exposed sand bank, see 14 Ga. B. J. 248 (1951).

For comment on Stanolind Oil & Gas Co. v. Franklin, 193 F.2d 561 (5th Cir. 1951), see 14 Ga. B. J. 498 (1952).

For comment on Cooper v. Anderson, 96 Ga. App. 800 , 101 S.E.2d 770 (1957) wherein child accompanying customer parent into store had status of invitee, see 9 Mercer L. Rev. 375 (1958).

For comment on Austin v. Smith, 96 Ga. App. 659 , 101 S.E.2d 169 (1958), concerning gross negligence in relation to gratuitous automobile guest, see 20 Ga. B. J. 552 (1958).

For note contrasting attractive nuisance doctrine in Georgia with that in California, see 22 Ga. B. J. 563 (1960).

For comment on Baynes v. McElrath, 106 Ga. App. 805 , 128 S.E.2d 348 (1962), finding passenger under car-pool arrangement as an invitee and not a guest, to whom driver owed ordinary care, see 14 Mercer L. Rev. 477 (1963).

For comment on Findley v. Lipsitz, 106 Ga. App. 24 , 126 S.E.2d 299 (1962), see 25 Ga. B. J. 457 (1963).

For comment on Kriess v. Allatoona Landing, Inc., 108 Ga. App. 427 , 133 S.E.2d 602 (1963), see 26 Ga. B. J. 450 (1964).

For comment discussing motel owner’s duty of care to infants, in light of Waught v. Duke Corp., 248 F. Supp. 626 (M.D.N.C. 1966), see 18 Mercer L. Rev. 480 (1967).

For comment on Hanson v. Town & Country Shopping Center, 259 Iowa 542, 144 N.W.2d 870 (1966), as to business owners’ duty to anticipate injury to customer due to ice on parking lot, see 1 Ga. L. Rev. 548 (1967).

For comment on Cargill, Inc. v. Zimmer, 374 F.2d 924 (8th Cir. 1967), highlighting Georgia’s narrow application of the “attractive nuisance” doctrine, see 19 Mercer L. Rev. 472 (1968).

For comment on Nesmith v. Starr, 115 Ga. App. 473 , 155 S.E.2d 24 (1967), see 4 Ga. St. B. J. 518 (1968).

For note discussing Georgia’s approach to social guests injured on the land of another, and advocating elevation of the expressly invited social guest to the status of invitee, see 6 Ga. St. B. J. 130 (1969).

For comment on Rowland v. Christian, 69 Cal. 2d 108, 70 Cal. Rep. 97, 443 P.2d 561, 32 A.L.R.3d 496 (Sup. Ct. 1968), applying a reasonable man test to the host in a personal injury suit brought by a social guest, rather than classifying plaintiff’s status, see 20 Mercer L. Rev. 338 (1969).

For note discussing landlord liability for crime in apartments, see 5 Ga. L. Rev. 349 (1971).

For comment on Ryckeley v. Georgia Power Co., 122 Ga. App. 107 , 176 S.E.2d 493 (1970), see 23 Mercer L. Rev. 431 (1972).

For article discussing property owner liability in “slip and fall” cases, see 14 Ga. St. B. J. 131 (1978).

For article surveying torts law, see 34 Mercer L. Rev. 271 (1982).

For comment, “A New Beginning for the Attractive Nuisance Doctrine in Georgia,” see 34 Mercer L. Rev. 433 (1982).

For annual survey of torts law, see 35 Mercer L. Rev. 291 (1983).

For article, “Changes in Liability Standards for Owners and Occupiers,” see 20 Ga. St. B. J. 41 (1983).

For note, “Tort Liability in Georgia for the Criminal Acts of Another,” see 18 Ga. L. Rev. 361 (1984).

For note, “Robinson v. Kroger: A Leveling of the Field or Fatal Fall for Summary Judgment?,” see 50 Mercer L. Rev. 655 (1999).

For article, “Construction Law,” see 53 Mercer L. Rev. 173 (2001).

For article, “Premises Liability for Criminal Attacks: Same Crimes, New Law,” see 5 Ga. St. B. J. 54 (1999).

For note, “Between Bystander and Insurer: Locating the Duty of the Georgia Landowner to Safeguard Against Third-Party Criminal Attacks on the Premises,” see 15 Ga. St. U.L. Rev. 1099 (1999).

For survey article on construction law, see 60 Mercer L. Rev. 59 (2008).

For annual survey on law of torts, see 61 Mercer L. Rev. 335 (2009).

For annual survey on torts, see 64 Mercer L. Rev. 287 (2012).

For annual survey of tort law, see 68 Mercer L. Rev. 279 (2016).

For article, “Premises Liability and Apportionment Following Martin v. Six Flags Over Georgia II, L.P.,” see 69 Mercer L. Rev. 1 (2017).

For annual survey on construction law, see 69 Mercer L. Rev. 63 (2017).

For annual survey on torts law, see 69 Mercer L. Rev. 299 (2017).

For note, “Don’t Let the Bed Bugs Bill: Landlord Liability for Bed Bug Infestations,” see 34 Ga. St. U. L. Rev. 479 (2018).

For article with annual survey on torts, see 73 Mercer L. Rev. 243 (2021).