Florida Law Weekly – June 29, 2018

Bechtel Corporation v. Batchelor – (3rd DCA)

In this premises liability action, the Bechtel Corporation Court held that the Trial Court erred in denying the defendant’s motion for directed verdict where there was insufficient evidence that the defendant exercised possession and control of the premises required to satisfy a premises liability claim. The Bechtel Corporation Court agreed that where more than one person is under a duty to maintain the premises, liability is predicated upon the person who has control of egress and ingress and not ownership of the property. Given that no witnesses testified that the defendant had controlled the property, the Trial Court should have granted a directed verdict.