WA Ct. Says HOA Not Liable to Employee of Maintenance Company For Injuries from Falling Tree

Washington State Appellate Court decision (November 17, 2014).

An employee of a company hired by an HOA to maintain the common areas, including trees, was injured when a tree fell on him. He sued the HOA claiming that it breached its duty to warn or otherwise protect him, as an invitee on the property, of a dangerous condition on the property that caused his injury.

The trial court held that a landowner’s responsibility for the condition of its land does not make the landowner liable for the negligent acts or omissions of an independent contractor, and the property owner owes no duty to the an employee of an independent contractor to protect him or […]