Pernell “Perry” Choren (Associate-Washington, DC) was extensively quoted in “Will you be held liable for third-party violence on your property? ‘Foreseeability’ is key,” an April 23, 2025, article published in Facilities Dive. Perry discusses how the first step in the liability analysis is understanding whether it was foreseeable that violence would take place on the landlord’s property. Part of this analysis is understanding the status of the victim – whether they were a trespasser, a licensee, or an invitee, as different duties apply to each category. The second step is understanding what security steps the landlord took – did they keep entrances locked, post applicable signs, install cameras and/or lights, erect fences/gates, hire any security guards, and/or arrange for a security audit? There also are steps that a management office can take to ensure proper security, particularly for a residential space – properly vetting residents, enforcing leases, issuing barring notices, etc. As plaintiffs’ attorneys become more aggressive in this space, residential and commercial landlords alike must remain informed of their legal rights and obligations.