Question:  If someone is bitten by a snake on my land, can I be held liable? This is a great question and as I was working on this blog post, I came across a great quote in a Texas appellate court opinion that sort of summarizes this issue:  “A good deal of the vegetation in Texas stings, sticks or stinks.  Any number of insects and animals can hurt or even kill you.” Answer:  Although liability is unlikely, it is possible under certain circumstances. As you may recall from… Read More →

Another important consideration for any landowner looking to lease land is the issue of what liability he or she may be subject to if someone is injured during the term of the lease agreement. In Texas, the general rule is that a landowner is not liable to the tenant or to others on the land for physical harm caused by any dangerous condition that existed at the time the lessee took possession of the land. As with most laws, however, there are several exceptions to this rule. A landowner… Read More →

There is an important statute that limits liability of certain property owners who open their land up for recreational uses.  Understanding that the vast majority of Texas land is privately owned, and hoping to encourage landowners to allow recreation on their land, the Texas Legislature passed the Recreational Use Statute.  This statute may be found at Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 75.   Essentially, where the statute applies, the landowner, lessee, or occupier owes the plaintiff the same duty as a trespasser–meaning that the landowner, lessee, or… Read More →

One of the most common questions I get from Texas landowners is under what circumstances they might be held liable is another person is injured on their land.  This is an important, and somewhat complex, issue that is very important for all landowners to be aware of.  In light of this, we will begin a multi-part series on Texas landowner liability that will continue for the next couple of weeks. Negligent Act v. Premises Liability When a plaintiff is injured on a defendant’s land, he or she has… Read More →

With the fall comes harvest time, which means we’ll be seeing more combines in the fields.  One of my favorite sights! Custom harvesting can be a great business venture for folks involved in agriculture as it can allow farmers to earn supplemental income using knowledge and equipment they already have from their own operations.  Farmers engaged in custom harvesting for others, however, should consider creating a separate business entity that will not only limit liability for their custom harvesting operation, but will also ensure that their own farm assets are protected in… Read More →