Beata Shapiro (Partner-Boston, MA), Brian Del Gatto (Partner-Phoenix, AZ), and Anne Kim (Associate-Boston, MA) defended a major national commercial tenant in a trip-and-fall case in the Suffolk County Superior Court in Boston. The plaintiff alleged that she fell on a sloped surface in the parking lot of the property after attending a ticketed event hosted by the firm’s client, and asserted claims of negligence and failure to warn. The firm’s client was added as a party to the case after discovery was conducted of the plaintiff and the co-defendants, the property owner, and the general contractor that installed the slope as part of an ongoing construction project at the site. Beata, Brian, and Anne moved for summary judgment as to all claims, before incurring the costs of answering the complaint or participating in discovery, on the grounds that the firm’s client did not have control over the parking lot under the terms of the lease and had no notice of the presence of the slope. Summary judgment was granted as to all claims against the firm’s client, over opposition, and the plaintiff has not appealed within the time permitted. This proactive approach saved the clients time and litigation expense and the possibility of a large damage award.