Perez v. KFC National Management Co.

Defendant appeals by leave granted the circuit court’s denial of its motion for summary disposition. The issue before us is whether defendant merchant owed a duty to plaintiff Lorenzo Perez to protect him from the criminal acts of a third party. We find that there was no such duty in this case, and reverse.

On the afternoon of May 14, 1986, plaintiff entered defendant’s Kentucky Fried Chicken establishment in a high-crime area. The person standing in line in front of plaintiff was arguing with the girl behind the counter, but eventually left. Although plaintiff is not fluent in English, he…