invitee

Person who is expressly or by implication asked to visit property in the possession, care, or control of another person. The inviter has the obligation to render his or her property safe for the visit of the invitee. Liability insurance is designed to protect an insured in the event that his or her negligent acts or omissions result in bodily injury to the invitee.

An individual who enters another's premises as a result of an express or implied invitation of the owner or occupant for their mutual gain or benefit.

For example, a customer in a restaurant or a depositor entering a bank to cash a check are both invitees. The owner or occupier of the premises onto which an invitee goes has a duty to exercise reasonable care for such invitee's protection.

An invitee is distinguishable from a licensee, who enters another's premises with the occupier's consent, but for his or her own purpose or benefit alone. A further distinction exists between an invitee and a trespasser, or one who intentionally enters another's property without consent or permission.

The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: a visitor to whom hospitality is extended
  Synonym: guest

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Tort law

Part of the common law series

Intentional torts

Assault · Battery False imprisonment Intentional infliction of emotional distress (IIED)

Property torts

Trespass (land · chattels) Conversion Detinue · Replevin · Trover

Defenses

Consent · Necessity Defense of self · of others · of property

Negligence

Duty of care · Standard of care Proximate cause · Res ipsa loquitur Calculus of negligence Rescue doctrine · Duty to rescue

Specific types Negligent infliction of emotional distress (NIED) Employment-related · Entrustment Malpractice (legal · medical)

Liability torts

Product liability Ultrahazardous activity

Nuisance

Public nuisance Rylands v. Fletcher

Dignitary torts

Defamation · Invasion of privacy False light · Breach of confidence Abuse of process Malicious prosecution Alienation of affections · Seduction

Economic torts

Fraud · Tortious interference Conspiracy · Restraint of trade

Liability, defences, remedies

Comparative / contributory negligence Last clear chance · Eggshell skull Vicarious liability · Volenti non fit injuria Ex turpi causa non oritur actio Neutral reportage · Damages Injunction · Torts and conflict of laws

Duty to visitors

Trespassers · Licensees · Invitees Attractive nuisance

Other common law areas

Contracts · Criminal law · Evidence Property · Wills, trusts and estates

Portals

Law

v • d • e

In the law of torts, an invitee is a person who is invited to land by the possessor of the land as a member of the public or one who is invited to the land for the purpose of business dealings with the possessor of the land. The status of a visitor as an invitee (as opposed to a trespasser or a licensee) defines the legal rights of the visitor if they are injured due to the negligence of the property owner.

The property owner has a duty to make the property safe for the invitee, which includes conducting a reasonable inspection of the premises to uncover hidden dangers. The property owner also has a duty to warn the invitee of hazardous conditions that cannot be fixed. Furthermore, property owners assume a duty to rescue an invitee who falls into peril while visiting the property. If an independent contractor hired by the landowner injures an invitee (intentionally or through negligence), the owner can be held vicariously liable. This represents the broadest duty of care owed to any class of visitors to the property.

An invitee is only an invitee within the scope of permission granted by the landowner. Thus, if he is invited to the livingroom as a houseguest and is injured snooping around in the landowner's bedroom, he does not have invitee status in that area.

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