While Charles and Esther Grossman were in a rented motel room at the Scottish Inns,Inc., in Knoxville, Tennessee, three

[answerhappygod]

While Charles and Esther Grossman were in a rented motel room atthe Scottish Inns,Inc., in Knoxville, Tennessee, three intruderskicked open the door, shot Charles, andinjured Esther. Theintruders also took $3,000 belonging to the Grossmans. TheGrossmansbrought an action against the motel owners, claiming that theowners hadbeen negligent in failing to provide adequately for thesafety of the motel’s guests. Attrial, the evidence showed that thedoor had a hollow core and that it fit poorly into thedoor frame.There was no deadbolt lock on the door, although such locks wereeasilyavailable and commonly used in motels. The only lock on thedoor was one fitted intothe door handle, which was described as agrade three lock, although a security chainwas attached to thedoor. The Grossmans had both locked and chained the door, butstill,a single kick on the part of the intruders was all that wasnecessary to open it.Evidence at trial also indicated that adeadbolt lock would have withstood the force thatwas applied to thedoor. Did the motel owners have a duty to protect their guestsfromcriminal acts on the motel premises, and if so, did the ownersbreach that duty of care byfailing to provide more secure locks onthe doors of the motel rooms?
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