Status of the Classification System

Summary: One important factor in determining the premises liability of a landowner to those who are injured on his property is knowing the landowner's duty and his relationship to the injured party. Under the traditional classification system, the injured party would fall into one of three categories: licensee, invitee, or trespasser. The following list is a brief state-by-state overview of the status of the traditional classification system.

Alabama: Retains traditional classification system. McMullan v. Butler , 346 So.2d 950 (Ala. 1977).

Alaska: Abolished traditional classification system. Webb v. City and Borough of Sitka , 561 P.2d 731. (Alaska 1977).

Arizona: Retains traditional classification system. Nicoletti v. Westcor, Inc., 639 P.2d 330 (Ariz. 1982).

Arkansas: Retains traditional classification system. Baldwin v. Mosley, 748 S.W.2d 146 (Ark. 1988).

California: Abolished traditional classification system. Rowland v. Christianson, 70 Cal. Rptr. 97 (1968).

Colorado: Retains a form of traditional classification system. Colo. Rev. Stat. §13-21-115.

Connecticut: Retains traditional classification system. Morin v. Bell Court Condo Ass'n , 612 A.2d 1197 (Conn. 1992).

Delaware: Retains traditional classification system. Bailey v. Pennington, 406 A.2d 44 (Del. 1979).

District of Columbia: Abolished traditional classification system. Smith v. Arbaugh's Restaurant, Inc., 469 F.2d 97 (D.C. Cir. 1972).

Florida: Abolished traditional classification system for invitees and licensees but retains distinction for trespassers. Wood v. Camp, 284 So.2d 691 (Fla. 1973).

Georgia: Retains traditional classification system. Epps v. Chattahoochee Brick Co., 231 S.E.2d 443 (Ga. 1976).

Hawaii: Abolished traditional classification system. Pickard v. City and County of Honolulu , 452 P.2d 445 (Haw. 1969).

Idaho: Retains traditional classification system. Mooney v. Robinson, 471 P.2d 63 (Idaho 1970).

Illinois: Abolished traditional classification system for invitees and licensees but retains distinction for trespassers. 740 ILCS §§130/2, 130/3.

Indiana: Retains traditional classification system. Burrell v. Meads, 569 N.E.2d 637 (Ind. 1991).

Iowa: Retains traditional classification system. Champion v. Walker , 249 N.W.2d 839 (Iowa 1977).

Kansas: Abolished traditional classification system for invitees and licensees but retains distinction for trespassers. Jones v. Hansen, 867 P.2d 303 (Kan. 1994).

Kentucky: Retains traditional classification system. Kirschner v. Louisville Gas & Elec. Co., 743 S.W.2d 840 (Ky. 1988).

Louisiana: Abolished traditional classification system. Cates v. Beauregard Elec. Coop., Inc., 328 So.2d 367 (La. 1976).

Maine: Abolished traditional classification system for invitees and licensees but retains distinction for trespassers. Poulin v. Colby College , 402 A.2d 846 (Me. 1979).

Maryland: Retains traditional classification system. Sherman v. Suburban Trust Co. , 384 A.2d 76 (Md. 1978).

Massachusetts: Abolished traditional classification system for invitees and licensees but retains distinction for trespassers. Mounsey v. Ellard, 297 N.E.2d 43 (Mass. 1973).

Michigan: Retains traditional classification system. Doran v. Combs, 354 N.W.2d 804 (Mich. Ct. App. 1984).

Minnesota: Abolished traditional classification system for invitees and licensees but retains distinction for trespassers. Peterson v. Balach, 199 N.W.2d 639 (Minn. 1972).

Mississippi: Retains traditional classification system. Astleford v. Milner Enterprises, Inc., 233 So.2d 524 (Miss. 1970).

Missouri: Retains traditional classification system. Carter v. Kinney, 896 S.W.2d 926 (Mo. 1995).

Montana: Abolished traditional classification system. Limberhand v. Big Ditch Co., 706 P.2d 491 (Mont. 1985).

Nebraska: Abolished traditional classification system for invitees and licensees but retains distinction for trespassers. Heins v. Webster County , 552 N.W.2d 51 (Neb. 1996).

Nevada: Abolished traditional classification system. Moody v. Manny's Auto Repair, 871 P.2d 935 (Nev. 1994).

New Hampshire: Abolished traditional classification system. Ouellette v. Blanchard, 364 A.2d 631 (N.H. 1976).

New Jersey: Retains traditional classification system. Hopkins v. Fox & Lazo Realtors , 599 A.2d 924 (N.J. Super. App. Div. 1991).

New Mexico: Abolished traditional classification system for invitees and licensees but retains distinction for trespassers. Ford v. Board of County Comm'rs , 879 P.2d 766 (N.M. 1994).

New York: Abolished traditional classification system. Basso v. Miller, 386 N.Y.S.2d 564 (1976).

North Carolina: Abolished traditional classification system. Nelson v. Freeland, 507 S.E.2d 882 (N.C. 1998).

North Dakota: Abolished traditional classification system for invitees and licensees but retains distinction for trespassers. O'Leary v. Coenen, 251 N.W.2d 746 (N.D. 1977).

Ohio: Retains traditional classification system. DiGildo v. Caponi, 247 N.E.2d 732 (Ohio 1969).

Oklahoma: Retains traditional classification system. Sutherland v. Saint Francis Hosp., Inc., 595 P.2d 780 (Okla. 1979).

Oregon: Retains traditional classification system. Thompson v. Klimp, 789 P.2d 696 (Or. App. 1990).

Pennsylvania: Retains traditional classification system. Carrender v. Fitterer, 469 A.2d 120 (Pa. 1983).

Rhode Island: Abolished traditional classification system for invitees and licensees but retains distinction for trespassers. Tantimonico v. Allendale Mut. Ins. Co. , 637 A.2d 1056 (R.I. 1994).

South Carolina: Retains traditional classification system. Hoover v. Broome , 479 S.E.2d 62 (S.C. Ct. App. 1996).

South Dakota: Retains traditional classification system. Underberg v. Cain, 348 N.W.2d 145 (S.D 1984).

Tennessee: Abolished traditional classification system for invitees and licensees but retains distinction for trespassers. Hudson v. Gaitan , 675 S.W.2d 699 (Tenn. 1984).

Texas: Retains traditional classification system. Buchholz v. Steitz, 463 S.W.2d 451 (Tex. App. 1971).

Utah: Retains traditional classification system. Tjas v. Proctor, 591 P.2d 438 (Utah 1979).

Vermont: Retains traditional classification system. Cameron v. Abateiell, 241 A.2d 310 (Vt. 1968).

Virginia: Retains traditional classification system. Tate v. Rice, 315 S.E.2d 385 (Va. 1989).

Washington: Retains traditional classification system. Younce v. Ferguson , 724 P.2d 991 (Wash. 1986).

West Virginia: Abolished traditional classification system for invitees and licensees but retains distinction for trespassers. Mallet v. Pickens, 522 S.E.2d 436 (W. Va. 1999).

Wisconsin: Abolished traditional classification system for invitees and licensees but retains distinction for trespassers. Antoniewicz v. Reszcynski, 236 N.W.2d 1 (Wis. 1975).

Wyoming: Abolished traditional classification system for invitees and licensees but retains distinction for trespassers. Clarke v. Beckwith, 858 P.2d 293 (Wyo. 1993).