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INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1
A New Year’s Goal That Wins Every Time: Intelligent Effort
2
End the Year With a Jar Full of Joyful Memories
2
Early Nightfall Makes Winter Roads More Dangerous
3
Guard Against Brain Injuries During the Ski and Hockey Season
3
Slow Cooker Birria Tacos
4
The Unexpected Rules on Premises Liability Claims in Missouri
The choice of a lawyer is an important one and should not be based solely upon advertisements.
Alex Reflects on Missouri’s Surprising Slip-and-Fall Rules SLIP, FALL … SURPRISE!
Here’s to 2026! The year 2025 was an incredible one for us, and I am excited to kick off another New Year. This transition always presents a natural “reset” moment, when we set new
Under the Massachusetts Rule (as applied in Missouri), landowners or business owners generally do not have a duty to remove snow or ice that accumulates on their premises. Why? Because these elements accumulate naturally and reflect a general condition in the community. What does this mean for plaintiffs? If a business or landowner chooses not to clear their premises of snow or ice and you fall and get hurt, they generally face no legal liability. However, Missouri recognizes exceptions to the rule. The first exception creates liability if the property owner assumed a duty to remove snow or ice based on its course or prior conduct. The second exception creates liability if someone entered a written agreement to remove the snow or ice. The timing of a plaintiff’s injury matters as well, based on whether snow or ice is actively falling. This rule under Missouri law begs the question: Why would a landowner undertake the duty to remove snow and ice in the first place? I’m curious to know your thoughts. Happy New Year!
goals for the business and new aspirations to achieve. To start off the year, I’d like to introduce a fascinating legal rule we follow in Missouri that can have a major impact on premises liability claims in our state: the so-called “Massachusetts Rule.” The beginning of the year in St. Louis is often cold and chilly, bringing snow and ice. Not surprisingly, we see a seasonal increase in premises liability claims. The possibility of slipping and falling on snow or ice is an unfortunate and scary scenario. Victims often suffer severe, life-changing injuries. Yet a plaintiff’s potential personal injury claim against a landowner or business owner can be quickly gutted under Missouri law. Remember, for a personal injury claim to be successful, we have to prove that another party breached a legal duty, and that their actions caused damage to our plaintiff.
Practicing in Missouri and Illinois
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