Smith v. Lagow Construction & Developing Co.

(on reassignment).

[¶ 1.] A tenant was murdered when hired killers used a key to enter her apartment. Shortly before her death, she told two apartment employees that one of her keys was missing. According to her mother, the tenant also asked to have her lock changed. Landlord policy prohibited tenants from changing their own locks and required a fee to change them. When the tenant’s estate sued, the circuit court granted summary judgment, ruling that under these facts landlords owe no duty of protection to their tenants. We reverse because there are genuine issues of material fact, and…