Kentucky Fried Chicken of California, Inc. v. Superior Court

Opinion

BAXTER, J.

We are asked to decide whether a shopkeeper owes a duty to a patron to comply with an armed robber’s demand for money in order to avoid increasing the risk of harm to patrons. The Court of Appeal held that such a duty exists. Petitioner Kentucky Fried Chicken of California, Inc. (KFC), disagrees and argues that the decision of the Court of Appeal conflicts with that in Vandermost v. Alpha Beta Co. (1985) 164 Cal.App.3d 771 [210 Cal.Rptr. 613] (Vandermost).

We conclude that a shopkeeper does not have a duty to comply with the unlawful demand of an armed robber that property be…