Computerized method and system for determining breach of duty in premises liability for an accident

• US 7,702,528 B2
• Filed: 09/09/2002
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Computer Sciences Corporation (DXC Technology Company)
• Original Assignee: Computer Sciences Corporation (DXC Technology Company)
• Inventors: Reynolds, Gilda, Wahlbin, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Koppikar; Vivek D
• Application Number:
  US10/238,019
• Publication Number:
  US 20040049409A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,780 Days
• Field of Search: 705 2- 4
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

A computer-implemented method and system for determining breach of duty in premises liability for an accident is provided. In one embodiment, breach of duty may be determined from characteristics of the accident. Characteristics may be provided to the computer system and evaluated to determine the breach of duty. In an embodiment, characteristics may include an insured type. Breach of duty may be determined for a claimant that includes an invitee, licensee, or trespasser.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

providing to a computer system a set of characteristics of a premises accident that has actually occurred, wherein one or more characteristics of the set of characteristics comprises;

an identification of a premises where the accident occurred, the identification of the premises comprising at least one of a tract of land, a building, or a part of a building; and

one or more conditions on the premises that caused the premises accident;

wherein one or more characteristics of the set of characteristics corresponds to information to be assessed at one or more decision points in a premises liability evaluation;

evaluating one or more characteristics of the set of characteristics at a first decision point of the premises liability evaluation to determine a status of one or more claimants as an invitee on the premises, a licensee on the premises, or a trespasser on the premises;

evaluating one or more characteristics of the set of characteristics at a second decision point of the premises liability evaluation to determine whether one or more dangerous conditions existed on the premises where the accident occurred;

the computer system being configured to if a dangerous condition existed on the premises where the accident occurred, evaluating one or more characteristics of the set of characteristics at a third decision point of the premises liability evaluation to determine whether there was a breach of duty by an owner or possessor of the premises to one or more of the claimants for an injury that occurred as a result of the dangerous condition that existed on the premises while the one or more claimants were on the premises, wherein the duty comprises a duty of the owner or possessor of the premises to at least one of the one or more of the claimants, wherein the determination of whether there was a breach of duty is based on the dangerous condition that existed on the premises where the accident occurred and the status of one or more of the claimants as an invitee on the premises, a licensee on the premises, or a trespasser on the premises, wherein determining whether there was a breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises;

categorizing the premises where the accident occurred by frequency of accidents, wherein the categories of frequency of accidents comprise low frequency, moderate frequency, and high frequency;

categorizing the premises where the accident occurred by amount of traffic, wherein the categories of amount of traffic comprise high traffic, moderate traffic, and low traffic; and

evaluating a timely inspection frequency for the premises where the accident occurred based on a combination of the category of frequency of accidents for the premises where the accident occurred and the category of amount of traffic for the premises where the accident occurred, wherein the higher the frequency of accidents and the higher the amount of traffic, the greater the timely inspection frequency for the premises; and

the computer system estimating, from the set of characteristics provided to the computer system, as a proportion of the total liability for the premises accident, premises liability of the owner or possessor for the premises accident to at least one of the claimants based at least in part on the determination of breach of duty to one or more of the claimants.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises a breach of duty with respect to an invitee.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether the dangerous condition was open and obvious with respect to an invitee.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether actual notice of the dangerous condition was provided to an invitee.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether constructive notice of the dangerous condition was provided to an invitee.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether the owner or possessor of the premises had opportunity to warn the invitee of the dangerous condition.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether the owner or possessor of the premises had opportunity to remedy the dangerous condition with respect to an invitee.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether the owner or possessor of the premises provided adequate warning to an invitee.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether the dangerous condition was remedied with respect to an invitee.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether the dangerous condition posed an unreasonable risk of harm with respect to a licensee.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether the dangerous condition was open and obvious with respect to a licensee.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether actual notice of the dangerous condition was provided to a licensee.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether constructive notice of the dangerous condition was provided to a licensee.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether adequate warning was provided to a licensee, and determining whether the licensee had knowledge of the dangerous condition.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether the dangerous condition existed with respect to a trespasser.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether the owner or possessor of the premises created the dangerous condition to cause harm with respect to a trespasser.

46. The method of claim 1, wherein estimating the premises liability of the owner or possessor includes adjusting the liability based on a jurisdiction of the premises accident.

47. The method of claim 1, wherein estimating the premises liability of the owner or possessor includes the computer system performing an adjustment to the premises liability based on the estimated contribution of at least two defenses to premises liability, wherein at least two of the defenses are not independent of one another, wherein the adjustment to premises liability based on the estimated contribution of the at least two defenses is greater than or less than the adjustment that would result from adding the individual contributions of the at least two defenses.

48. The method of claim 1, wherein estimating the premises liability of the owner or possessor includes:

the computer system estimating, from at least one of the characteristics of the premises accident that has actually occurred, the contribution of one or more defenses to the premises liability of the owner or possessor of the premises to at least one of the one or more claimants in the premises accident, the estimated contribution of at least one of the one or more defenses to premises liability being expressed as a proportion of liability, and

the computer system performing an adjustment to the premises liability based on the estimated contribution of at least one of the one or more defenses to premises liability.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein estimating the contribution of at least one of the one or more defenses comprises:

associating two or more outcomes in which one or more of the defenses applies with an effect on liability;

storing the two or more outcomes in the computer system; and

the computer system automatically determining, at one or more decision points, which one of the two or more outcomes occurred.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein estimating the contribution of at least one of the one or more defenses comprises:

evaluating the injured party'"'"'s familiarity with the premises; and

estimating an effect of an implied assumption of risk defense based on the injured party'"'"'s familiarity with the premises.

51. The method of claim 48, wherein estimating the contribution of at least one of the one or more defenses comprises:

evaluating the injured party'"'"'s familiarity with the dangerous condition; and

estimating an effect of an implied assumption of risk defense based on the injured party'"'"'s familiarity with the dangerous condition.

17. A system, comprising:

a CPU;

a data memory coupled to the CPU; and

a system memory coupled to the CPU, wherein the system memory is configured to store one or more computer programs executable by the CPU, and wherein the computer programs are executable to implement a method comprising;

providing to a computer system a set of characteristics of a premises accident that has actually occurred, wherein one or more characteristics of the set of characteristics comprises;

an identification of a premises where the accident occurred, the identification of the premises comprising at least one of a tract of land, a building, or part of the building; and

one or more conditions on the premises that caused the premises accident;

wherein one or more characteristics of the set of characteristics corresponds to information to be assessed at one or more decision points in a premises liability evaluation;

evaluating one or more characteristics of the set of characteristics at a first decision point of the premises liability evaluation to determine a status of one or more claimants as an invitee on the premises, a licensee on the premises, or a trespasser on the premises;

evaluating one or more characteristics of the set of characteristics at a second decision point of the premises liability evaluation to determine whether one or more dangerous conditions existed on the premises where the accident occurred;

the computer system being configured to if a dangerous condition existed on the premises where the accident occurred, evaluating one or more characteristics of the set of characteristics at a third decision point of the premises liability evaluation to determine whether there was a breach of duty by a owner of the premises to one or more of the claimants for an injury that occurred as a result of the dangerous condition that existed on the premises while the one or more claimants were on the premises, wherein the duty comprises a duty of the owner or possessor of the premises to one or more of the claimants, wherein the determination of whether there was a breach of duty is based on the dangerous condition that existed on the premises where the accident occurred and the status of one or more of the claimants as an invitee on the premises, a licensee on the premises, or a trespasser on the premises, wherein determining whether there was a breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises;

categorizing the premises where the accident occurred by frequency of accidents, wherein the categories of frequency of accidents comprise low frequency, moderate frequency, and high frequency;

categorizing the premises where the accident occurred by amount of traffic, wherein the categories of amount of traffic comprise high traffic, moderate traffic, and low traffic; and

evaluating a timely inspection frequency for the premises where the accident occurred based on a combination of the category of frequency of accidents for the premises where the accident occurred and the category of amount of traffic for the premises where the accident occurred, wherein the higher the frequency of accidents and the higher the amount of traffic, the greater the timely inspection frequency for the premises; and

estimating, from the set of characteristics provided to the computer system, as a proportion of the total liability for the premises accident, premises liability of the owner or possessor for the premises accident to at least one of the claimants based at least in part on the determination of breach of duty to one or more of the claimants.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises a breach of duty with respect to an invitee.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether the dangerous condition was open and obvious with respect to an invitee.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether actual notice of the dangerous condition was provided to an invitee.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether constructive notice of the dangerous condition was provided to an invitee.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether the owner or possessor of the premises had opportunity to warn the invitee of the dangerous condition.

23. The system of claim 17, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether the owner or possessor of the premises had opportunity to remedy the dangerous condition with respect to an invitee.

24. The system of claim 17, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether the owner or possessor of the premises provided adequate warning to an invitee.

25. The system of claim 17, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether the dangerous condition was remedied with respect to an invitee.

26. The system of claim 17, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether a dangerous condition existed and posed an unreasonable risk of harm with respect to a licensee.

27. The system of claim 17, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether the dangerous condition was open and obvious with respect to a licensee.

28. The system of claim 17, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether actual notice of the dangerous condition was provided to a licensee.

29. The system of claim 17, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether constructive notice of the dangerous condition was provided to a licensee.

30. The system of claim 17, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether adequate warning was provided to a licensee, and determining whether the licensee had knowledge of the dangerous condition.

31. The system of claim 17, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether the dangerous condition existed with respect to a trespasser.

32. The system of claim 17, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether the owner or possessor of the premises created the dangerous condition to cause harm with respect to a trespasser.

33. A computer readable storage medium comprising program instructions stored thereon, wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to implement a method for determining breach of duty in premises liability for an accident, the method comprising:

providing to a computer system a set of characteristics of a premises accident that has actually occurred, and wherein one or more characteristics of the set of characteristics comprises;

an identification of a premises where the accident occurred, the identification of the premises comprising at least one of a tract of land, a building, or a part of a building; and

one or more conditions on the premises that caused the premises accident;

wherein one or more characteristics of the set of characteristics corresponds to information to be assessed at one or more decision points in a premises liability evaluation;

evaluating one or more characteristics of the set of characteristics at a first decision point of the premises liability evaluation to determine a status of one or more claimants as an invitee on the premises, a licensee on the premises, or a trespasser on the premises;

evaluating one or more characteristics of the set of characteristics at a second decision point of the premises liability evaluation to determine whether one or more dangerous conditions existed on the premises where the accident occurred;

the computer system being configured to if a dangerous condition existed on the premises where the accident occurred, evaluating one or more characteristics of the set of characteristics at a third decision point of the premises liability evaluation to determine whether there was a breach of duty by an owner of the premises to one or more of the claimants that occurred as a result of the dangerous condition that existed on the premises while the one or more claimants were on the premises, wherein the duty comprises a duty of the owner or possessor of the premises to one or more of the claimants, wherein the determination of whether there was a breach of duty is based on the dangerous condition that existed on the premises where the accident occurred and the status of one or more of the claimants as an invitee on the premises, a licensee on the premises, or a trespasser on the premises, wherein determining whether there was a breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises;

categorizing the premises where the accident occurred by frequency of accidents, wherein the categories of frequency of accidents comprise low frequency, moderate frequency, and high frequency;

categorizing the premises where the accident occurred by amount of traffic, wherein the categories of amount of traffic comprise high traffic, moderate traffic, and low traffic; and

evaluating a timely inspection frequency for the premises where the accident occurred based on a combination of the category of frequency of accidents for the premises where the accident occurred and the category of amount of traffic for the premises where the accident occurred, wherein the higher the frequency of accidents and the higher the amount of traffic, the greater the timely inspection frequency for the premises; and

estimating, from the set of characteristics provided to the computer system, as a proportion of the total liability for the premises accident, premises liability of the owner or possessor for the premises accident to at least one of the claimants based at least in part on the determination of breach of duty to one or more of the claimants.

34. The computer readable storage medium of claim 33, wherein the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises a breach of duty with respect to an invitee.

35. The computer readable storage medium of claim 33, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether the dangerous condition was open and obvious with respect to an invitee.

36. The computer readable storage medium of claim 33, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether actual notice of the dangerous condition was provided to an invitee.

37. The computer readable storage medium of claim 33, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether constructive notice of the dangerous condition was provided to an invitee.

38. The computer readable storage medium of claim 33, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises for an invitee or a general claimant comprises determining whether the owner or possessor of the premises had opportunity to warn the claimant of the dangerous condition.

39. The computer readable storage medium of claim 33, wherein determining the breach of duty by a owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether the insured had opportunity to remedy the dangerous condition with respect to an invitee.

40. The computer readable storage medium of claim 33, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether the owner or possessor of the premises provided adequate warning to an invitee.

41. The computer readable storage medium of claim 33, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether the dangerous condition was remedied with respect to an invitee.

42. The computer readable storage medium of claim 33, wherein determining the breach of duty comprises determining whether the dangerous condition posed an unreasonable risk of harm with respect to a licensee.

43. The computer readable storage medium of claim 33, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether the dangerous condition was open and obvious with respect to a licensee.

44. The computer readable storage medium of claim 33, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether actual notice of the dangerous condition was provided to a licensee.

45. The computer readable storage medium of claim 33, wherein determining the breach of duty by the owner or possessor of the premises comprises determining whether constructive notice of the dangerous condition was provided to a licensee.