ÿWPC$! …# VU:a %› 0@¡w@á4! 5 0„D 0DÈ n­ ¹ ¿ ¿ 0JÇ 0T 0^e 0hà 0r+ 0| 0† 0Ÿ 1u/U,¤ 0dÐ B4U,QU6} D3³B)æDC 0@R AM’U*ßB >K¥‰v~.vÓ¬ AOÆÎ 0D” D/Ø B!˜HP LaserJet 4Si/4SiMX PS 600dpiPSCRIPTÀÌÀääÀÀÌ0 <Ô6X9`+"Courier 10cpiX(ù$¡¡Ó  ÓÓ  Ó ~D€‚Dƒ„E…†Ó€’v‡d hxxxÔ3|x”(4(3DX$¤¤Ý ƒù!ÝÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  Ýà  àòòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó(#Ã$òòÚ  Ú0Ú  Úóó«<þ6X9`("Courier 10cpiXXxþ6X@É“8Ç;X@H2 ÿÿ0Indent1Ô2ÔÔ3  Ô2" ÿÿ0Indent2à0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2, ÿÿ0Indent3à0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô26 ÿÿ0Indent4à0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2@ ÿÿ0Indent5à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2J ÿÿ0Indent6à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2T ÿÿ0Indent7à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô2^ ÿÿ0Indent8à0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àà0 àÔ2ÔÔ3  Ô ÿÿ?AGMSYaioIndent0I.A.1.a.(1)(a)i)a)< Œ 9p`(ModernP ÿÿ8Mac DefaultMac DefaultÓ ` °šXÓ d< Œ 9p`(Monaco< Œ 9p`(Courier New&&&&'ÿÿdxd% Line 7 d++++7Border 1dd("ÿÿ$££Ò  ÒÒ  Ò€-,Cþÿ << Gÿÿ< Œ 9p`(Arial 8Ý ƒ!ÝÑ  ÑÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€)ÔÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÔ€/ÔÔ€/ÔÓ  ÓÔ YYY ÔFILEDÔ€/XÔÌÌò òMarch€4,€1996ÌÌCecil€Crowson,€Jr.ÌÔ€/ôÔAppellate€Court€Clerkó ó 4Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€)ÔÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝòòThe€order€dismissing€the€case€provides€as€follows:€€"It€is€thereforeÏORDERED€AND€ADJUDGED€that€this€action€is€dismissed€on€the€merits€with€preju…dice,€and€the€costs€of€this€cause€shall€be€taxed€to€the€plaintiffsò ò,€òòand€theÏplaintiff€may€submit€law€on€the€contractual€aspect€to€see€if€theÏcourt€needs€to€review€that€area,€onlyóó.ó ó"€€The€emphasized€part€of€theÏabove€order€was€a€handwritten€notation€made€by€the€trial€court.€€We€view€thisÏas€an€invitation€for€the€plaintiffs€to€file€a€motion€to€reconsider€or€otherÏsimilar€motion,€along€with€a€brief€of€law€in€the€event€they€chose€to€do€so.€ÏSince€the€record€is€silent€concerning€any€further€action€of€the€part€of€theÏplaintiffs,€other€than€this€appeal,€we€are€of€the€opinion€and€hold€that€theÏplaintiffs€elected€not€to€pursue€the€matter€further€in€the€trial€court,€hence,Ïthe€above€order€is€final€and€appealable€as€of€right.€óóÌ ›Ý ƒ!ÝÑ#€d#ÑÔ€ÔÔ€)ÔÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÝ ƒ $Ýà àòòÚ  ÚÚ  ÚóóÝ  ÝòòWe€believe€that€the€provisions€for€the€security€of€the€individualÏapartments€were€sufficient,€under€the€facts€of€this€case,€to€demonstrate€thatÏthe€defendants€had,€in€fact,€exercised€due€care€under€the€circumstances.óóÌPtPtHHÚ(ÿáÿâùFG(üHHÚ(d'@Styl{WP}01•ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃà Ãà Ãà Ãà Ãà ÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÃÐ ÐÐHHÐÐ  ÐÐ2ÐÐÿÿ¸æ$ÿÐÐHHÐÐÐÐÐÐÐÐ  ÐÐ ÐÐ ÐÑÑÑGenevaÑÑ ÑÑ € ÑÑ<Px–ÈÑÒÒÒ443!#4ÒÒ$ *$ÒÒ$*$ÒÒ ÿKK ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÒ  Geneva ÒÓ.,ÓÓÓÓ6ÓÓ ÓßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßßÑMonacoÑÑ ÑÒ  BA: T Monaco ÒÒ  BA: T Monaco Ò€-‚ƒCþÿ<< CÿÿƒLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5($$””ò òÚ  Ú1Ú  Úó ó„„'÷ÿ dxdüÿP PdÝ ƒ!ÝÔ . ÔÔ€ÔÓ&€((X„d&ÓÑ#€((Xd#ÑÔ€)ÔÓ  ÓÓ  ÓÝ  ÝÑ  ÑÑ  ÑÑ ô ÑÑ  ÑÑ\R AØ'\ÑÑ7€÷kXXdÈdÈ7ÑÙ€€ÙßL€.0,;+'h|` Å `€€Lß›à@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALSÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌDONNA€JUNE€ARCHER€and€JAMES€€€€€)à àHAWKINSÏCIRCUITÌDAVID€ARCHER,€Individually€and€€)à àC.A.€NO.€03A01„9511„CV„00417Ìas€Administrators€of€the€Estate€)Ìof€œVERNA›€LEE€ARCHER,€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€Plaintiffs„Appellants€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ìvs.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àHON.€JOHN€K.€WILSONÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àJUDGEÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)ÌBURTON€PLAZA€ASSOCIATES,€LTD.,€€)à àAFFIRMED€AND€REMANDEDÌand€AMERICAN€MANAGEMENT€COMPANY,)ÌINC.,€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)€Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€Defendants„Appellees€€)ÌÌÌÌÌWILLIAM€E.€PHILLIPS,€Phillips€and€Hale,€Rogersville,€for€Appel…lants.ÌÌÌTRACEY€SHAW,€œHowell›€and€Fisher,€Nashville,€for€Appellees.ÌÌÌÌÌÌÓÓà@ àòòO€P€I€N€I€O€NóóÌÌà€ àMcMurray,€J.ÌÌà àThis€is€an€action€for€wrongful€death.€€The€plaintiffs€seek€toÏrecover€damages€from€the€owners€and€operators€of€the€Burton€PlazaÏApartments€complex€in€Rogersville.€€The€plaintiffs€assert€that€theÏdefendants€were€negligent€in€failing€to€provide€proper€securityÏand€protection€for€the€occupants€of€the€apartments.€Specifically,Ïthey€assert€that€the€outside€hallway€doors€of€the€apartment€build…ing€were€never€locked.€€The€plaintiffs€also€sue€on€the€theory€ofÏbreach€of€contract.ÌÌà àThe€plaintiffs'€decedent€was€murdered€by€a€third€party€insideÏthe€laundry€room€of€the€apartment€building€in€which€the€decedentÏlived.€€The€trial€court€dismissed€the€case,€with€prejudice,€onÍdefendants'€motion€for€summary€judgment.œ× ƒ1 ××  ×›€€We€affirm€the€judgmentÏof€the€trial€court.ÌÌà àThe€defendants'€motion€for€summary€judgment€was€based€uponÏthe€grounds€that€there€is€no€dispute€as€to€any€material€fact,Ïtherefore,€the€defendants€are€entitled€to€judgment€as€a€matter€ofÏlaw.€€In€support€of€their€motion€for€summary€judgment,€the€defen…dants€filed€the€affidavits€of€Imogene€Trent,€Patty€Ownby,€LarryÏLawson€and€Robert€M.€Reeves,€as€well€as€the€depositions€of€DonnaÏArcher€and€James€David€Archer.ÌÌà àThe€plaintiffs€in€opposition€to€the€motion€for€summary€judg…ment€rely€upon€the€depositions€of€Imogene€Trent,€Hazel€Mayes,ÏDonna€June€Archer€and€James€David€Archer.ÌÌà àÔ&  ÔThe€plaintiffs€present€the€following€issues€for€our€review:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà0 àà à1.à àDid€the€trial€court€err€in€determining€that,€as€aÏÔ'  Ômatter€of€law,€the€defendants€were€entitled€toÏsummary€judgment€as€to€the€negligence€count€of€theÏplaintiffs'€cause€of€action?ÌÌà8 àà0 àà à2.à àDid€the€trial€court€err€in€determining€that,€as€aÏmatter€of€law,€the€defendants€were€entitled€toÏsummary€judgment€as€to€the€breach€of€contract€countÏof€the€plaintiffs'€cause€of€action?ÌÌÓÓÌà@ àò òSTANDARD€OF€REVIEWó óÌÌà àOur€standards€of€review€in€considering€the€propriety€ofÏsummary€judgment€is€as€follows:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà àThe€standards€governing€an€appellate€court's€reviewÏof€a€trial€court's€action€on€a€motion€for€summary€à àjudg…ment€are€well€settled.€Since€our€inquiry€involves€purelyÏa€question€of€law,€no€presumption€of€correctness€atta…ches€to€the€trial€court's€judgment,€and€our€task€isÍconfined€to€reviewing€the€record€to€determine€whetherÏthe€requirements€of€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€56€have€been€met.ÏòòœCowden›€v.€œSovran›€Bank/Central€Southóó,€816€S.W.2d€741,€744Ï(Tenn.€1991).€Tenn.€R.€Civ.€P.€56.03€provides€thatÏsummary€judgment€is€only€appropriate€where:€(1)€there€isÏno€genuine€issue€with€regard€to€the€material€factsÏrelevant€to€the€claim€or€defense€contained€in€the€mo…tion,€òòByrd€v.€œHall€[v.€Hall]óó,›€847€S.W.2d€208,€210€(Tenn.Ï1993);€and€(2)€the€moving€party€is€entitled€to€a€judg…ment€as€matter€of€law€on€the€undisputed€facts.€òòAndersonÏv.€Standard€Register€Coóó.,€857€S.W.2d€555,€559€(Tenn.Ï1993).€The€moving€party€has€the€burden€of€proving€thatÏits€motion€satisfies€these€requirements.€òòœDownen›€v.ÏAllstate€Ins.€Coóó.,€811€S.W.2d€523,€524€(Tenn.€1991).ÌÌà8 àà àThe€standards€governing€the€assessment€of€evidenceÏin€the€summary€judgment€context€are€also€well€estab…lished.€Courts€must€view€the€evidence€in€the€light€mostÏfavorable€to€the€nonmoving€party€and€must€also€draw€allÏreasonable€inferences€in€the€nonmoving€party's€favor.ÏòòByrdóó,€847€S.W.2d€at€210„11.€Courts€should€grant€a€summa…ry€judgment€only€when€both€the€facts€and€the€conclusionsÏto€be€drawn€from€the€facts€permit€a€reasonable€person€toÏÔ&  Ôreach€only€one€conclusion.€Id.ÌÌÌòòœCarvell›€v.€Bottomsóó,€900€S.W.2d€23€(Tenn.€œ1995).Ô'  Ơ̛̜̂ÌÓÓà@ àò òDISCUSSIONó ớ̜à@ àò òThe€Contract€IssueÌó óÌà àWe€will€first€discuss€the€contract€issue.€€The€œprovision›œs›€ofÏthe€contract€relied€upon€by€the€plaintiffs€œare›€found€in€the€leaseÏagreement€between€the€decedent€and€the€defendants.€€The€specificÏprovisions€upon€which€the€plaintiffs€rely€are€found€in€SectionÏeleven€of€the€lease€agreement:ÌÌÓÓà8 àò òSection€11.€Maintenanceó ó:ÌÌà8 àò òa.à àó óThe€Landlord€agrees€to:ÌÌà0 àà8 àà0 àà à(1)à àregularly€clean€all€common€areas€of€the€pro…ject;ÌÌà8 àà0 àò òà0 àà à(2)à àòòmaintain€the€common€areas€and€facilitiesÏin€a€safe€conditionóó;ó ó€€(Emphasis€added).ÌÌà8 àà0 àà0 àà à(3)à àarrange€for€collection€and€removal€of€trashÏand€garbage;ÌÌà8 àà0 àà0 àà à(4)à àmaintain€all€equipment€and€appliances€in€safeÏand€working€order;ÌÌà8 àà0 àà0 àà à(5)à àmake€the€necessary€repairs€with€reasonableÏpromptness;ÌÌà8 àà0 àà0 àà à(6)à àœmaintain›€exterior€lighting€in€good€workingÏorder;ÌÌà8 àà0 àà0 àà à(7)à àœprovide›€extermination€services,€as€necessary;ÏandÌÌà8 àà0 àà0 àà à(8)à àœmaintain›€grounds€and€shrubs.ÌÌÓÓÌà àThe€plaintiffs€urge€us€to€find€that€a€duty€existed€under€theÏabove€section€and€subsections€of€the€lease€agreement€to€protectÏthe€lessee€against€injury€caused€by€criminal€acts€of€third€par…ties.€€The€resolution€of€this€issue€requires€an€interpretation€ofÏthe€contract.ÌÌà àThe€cardinal€rule€for€interpretation€of€a€contract€is€toÏascertain€the€intention€of€the€parties€from€a€consideration€of€theÏinstrument€as€a€whole.€€òòBob€Pearsall€Motors€v.€Regal€ChryslerÏPlymouthóó,€521€S.W.2d€578,€580€(Tenn.€1975);€€òòœAPAC›„Tennessee,€Inc.Ïv.€œJ.M.›€œHumphries›€Const.€Coóó.,€732€S.W.2d€601,€604€(Tenn.€App.Ï1986);€òòœRodgers›€v.€Southern€Newspapers,€Incóó.,€214€Tenn.€335,€379ÏS.W.2d€797€(1964).€In€construing€contracts,€the€words€expressingÏthe€parties'€intentions€should€be€given€their€usual,€natural€andÏordinary€meaning€and€neither€party€is€to€be€favored€in€theirÏconstruction.€€òòBrown€v.€Tennessee€Auto.€Ins.€Coóó.,€192€Tenn.€60,Ï237€S.W.2d€553,€554€(1951);€€òòœBallard›€v.€North€American€Life€&ÏCasualty€Coóó.,€667€S.W.2d€79,€83€(Tenn.€App.€1983).€€OtherwiseÏstated,€the€language€used€must€be€taken€and€understood€in€itsÍplain,€ordinary€and€popular€sense.€€òòGuardian€Life€Ins.€Co.€V.ÏRichardsonóó,€129€S.W.2d€1107€(Tenn.€App€œ1939).›ÌÌà àApplying€the€above€rules€to€the€contract€provisions€at€hand,Ïwe€find€that€the€intentions€of€the€parties€are€clear.€We€are€ofÏthe€opinion€that,€in€proper€context,€the€terms€"maintenance"€andÔ% € ÔÏ"maintain€the€common€areas€and€facilities€in€a€safe€condition"€areÏlimited€to€maintaining€the€property€so€that€the€common€areas€andÏfacilities€are€free€from€physical€defects.€€We€find€œthat€under›€theÏterms€of€the€œcontract,€the€parties›€did€not€contemplate€protectionÏof€the€occupants€from€harm€by€third€persons.€€Accordingly,€we€areÏof€the€opinion€that€the€trial€court€was€correct€in€sustaining€theÏmotion€for€summary€judgment€on€the€breach€of€contract€issue.Ì€Ìà@ àÔ&  Ôò òThe€Tort€Issueó óÌÌà àThe€record€reflects€that€the€following€facts€are€totallyÏundisputed:ÌÌà àBurton€Plaza€Apartments€is€an€apartment€complexÔ'  Ô€consisting€ofÏœapproximatey›€three€separate€apartment€œbuildings.›€€Each€buildingÏcontains€multiple€apartments.€€Access€to€the€individual€apartmentsÏis€from€a€common€exterior€door€or€doors€which€lead€into€a€commonÏhallway.€€The€exterior€door€of€the€common€area€is€equipped€with€aÏlock€requiring€a€key€(if€locked)€to€obtain€entrance€and€a€push„barÏto€exit€the€building.€€None€of€the€tenants€were€furnished€keys€toÏthe€exterior€door€of€the€common€entrance.€€The€common€exteriorÏdoors€were€never€locked.ÌÌà àThe€individual€apartments€each€have€an€exterior€door€whichÏleads€into€the€common€area€of€the€apartment€building.€€The€exteri…or€door€of€each€apartment€œis›€an€exterior€type€fire€door,€equippedÏwith€a€deadbolt€lock,€a€peephole€and€a€doorbell.ÌÌà àThe€apartments€were€designed€for€aged€or€infirm€persons€andÏin€addition€to€the€safety€features€of€the€individual€apartmentsÏdoors,€each€apartment€also€had€an€emergency€"pull€cord"€in€theÏbathroom€and€bedroom.ÌÌà àThe€decedent,€Ms.€Verna€Lee€Archer,€was€a€resident€of€one€ofÏthe€apartments.€€One€Johnny€W.€Bryant€entered€the€apartment€build…ing€in€which€Ms.€Archer€was€living.€€He€gained€access€through€theÏcommon€unlocked€exterior€door€into€the€common€area€hallway€andÏknocked€on€several€doors.€€Apparently,€the€decedent€admitted€Mr.ÏBryant€to€her€apartment€after€which€Mr.€Bryant€lured€or€forciblyÏtook€her€from€her€apartment€to€a€laundry€room€in€the€building.€ÏThere€was€no€evidence€of€a€struggle€or€other€disturbance€insideÏthe€apartment€of€Ms.€Archer.€€There€were€signs€of€a€struggle€inÏthe€laundry€room,€i.e.,€blood,€broken€glass€and€scuff€marks.ÌÌà àThe€Rogersville€Police€Department€received€a€call€shortlyÏafter€9:00€p.m.€from€Ms.€Susan€Cole,€another€resident€of€theÏapartment€building.€€Ms.€Cole€reported€that€a€man€was€in€theÏupstairs€laundry€room€and€a€woman€was€calling€for€help.€€TheÍRogersville€police€responded€immediately.€€The€decedent€was€theÏonly€resident€of€the€building€that€could€not€be€accounted€for.€ÏAfter€a€search€in€and€around€the€apartment€building,€the€body€ofÏMs.€Archer€was€discovered€some€fifty€(50)€feet€from€the€corner€ofÏthe€building€in€which€she€resided.ÌÌà àThe€following€day€Johnny€Bryant€was€arrested€and€charged€withÏhomicide€and€attempt€to€commit€rape.€€Subsequently,€he€pled€guilty€Ïto€these€charges€and€was€convicted€of€one€count€of€First€DegreeÏMurder€and€one€count€of€Criminal€Attempt€to€Commit€Rape.ÌÌà àMs.€Imogene€Trent,€Manager€of€Burton€Plaza€Apartments,€de…posed€in€her€affidavit€that€she€had€been€manager€of€the€apartmentÏcomplex€since€œ1981€and›€at€no€time€did€she€ever€receive€any€com…plaints€that€the€tenants€had€concerns€for€their€safety€because€œthe›Ïexterior€doors€were€unlocked.€€She€further€stated€that€she€was€notÏaware€of€any€acts€which€occurred€at€Burton€Plaza€Apartments€thatÏposed€a€probability€of€harm€to€any€of€the€residents€of€the€apart…ment€complex.€€The€affidavit€of€Patty€Ownby,€president€of€AmericanÍApartment€Management€Company,€Inc.,€generally€reiterated€theÏstatements€of€Ms.€Trent.ÌÌà àLarry€Lawson,€Chief€of€Police€of€the€Rogersville€PoliceÏDepartment,€stated€by€affidavit€that€he€had€been€employed€with€theÏpolice€department€since€1987;€that€he€was€personally€familiar€withÏthe€location€of€the€Burton€Plaza€Apartment€and€the€level€of€crimi…nal€activity€in€Rogersville;€and,€that€before€the€death€of€Ms.ÏArcher€on€January€29,€1994,€he€was€not€aware€of€any€criminalÏactivity€or€any€complaints€concerning€safety€measures€at€BurtonÏPlaza€Apartments.€€He€further€stated€that€he€was€not€aware€of€anyÏacts€or€omissions€which€made€the€murder€of€Ms.€Archer€foreseeableÏto€the€police€department.ÌÌà àRobert€M.€Reeves,€Deputy€Director€of€the€Tennessee€Bureau€ofÏInvestigation€stated€by€affidavit€that€the€œT.B.I.›€investigated€Ms.ÏArcher's€death€pursuant€to€a€written€request€from€the€DistrictÏAttorney€General,€Mr.€œBerkler›€Bell.€€Mr.€Reeves€affidavit€corƒroborated€facts€previously€stated.ÌÌà àThe€only€charge€of€negligence€averred€in€the€plaintiffs'Ïcomplaint€is€that€the€defendants€failed€to€lock€the€outside€commonÏdoors€of€the€apartment€building.€€There€is€no€allegations€thatÏthere€had€been€any€criminal€activity€in€or€around€the€apartmentÏcomplex.€€The€record€is€devoid€of€any€evidence€of€criminal€activi…ty€except€for€the€theft€of€a€linen€table€which€apparently€wasÏstolen€when€the€apartments€were€first€opened€for€occupancy.ÌÌà àFrom€the€above€facts,€we€must€make€a€determination€if€theÏdefendants'€failed€in€any€duty€owed€to€the€plaintiffs'€decedent.ÌÌà àAn€excellent€historical€discussion€of€a€landlord's€liabilityÏis€found€in€òòCornpropst€v.€Sloanóó,€528€S.W.2d€188€(Tenn.€1975).€€InÏòòCornpropstóó,€the€question€on€appeal€was€whether€the€complaintÏstated€a€cause€of€action€against€merchants€who€are€members€of€aÏshopping€center€association,€for€personal€injuries€to€an€inviteeÏresulting€from€a€sudden€criminal€assault€by€a€third€party,€on€aÏshopping€center€parking€lot.€€The€court€stated:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà àWe€are€not€called€upon,€in€this€case,€to€draft€aÏrule€applicable€to€all€of€the€many€types€of€business€andÏentertainment€and€service€establishments€or€of€everyÏpremises€liability,€or€special€relationship€situationÏwherein€a€duty€of€protection€of€invitees€might€be€as…serted,€and€we€do€not€propose€to€do€so.Ì€Ìà8 àà àIn€our€opinion€the€appropriate€rule€applicable€toÏthis€case€is€as€follows:€There€is€no€duty€upon€theÏowners€or€operators€of€a€shopping€center,€individuallyÏor€collectively,€or€upon€merchants€and€shopkeepersÏgenerally,€whose€mode€of€operation€of€their€premisesÏdoes€not€attract€or€provide€a€climate€for€crime,€toÏguard€against€the€criminal€acts€of€a€third€party,€unlessÏthey€know€or€have€reason€to€know€that€acts€are€occurringÏor€about€to€occur€on€the€premises€that€pose€imminentÏprobability€of€harm€to€an€invitee;€whereupon€a€duty€ofÏreasonable€care€to€protect€against€such€act€arises.ÌÌÓÓÌà àIn€our€view,€there€is€no€discernible€reason€why€the€same€ruleÏshould€not€apply€to€the€facts€under€consideration€here.€€Under€theÏundisputed€facts€of€this€case,€the€premises€did€not€attract€orÏprovide€a€climate€for€crime.€€Further,€the€defendants€had€noÏreason€œto€know›€œthat€criminal›€acts€œwere›€occurring€or€about€to€occurÏon€the€premises€that€œposed›€an€imminent€probability€of€œharm€to›€theÏoccupants€of€the€apartment€complex.ÌÌà àSince€òòCornpropstóó,€perhaps€the€leading€case€most€similar€toÏthe€facts€under€consideration€here€is€òòTedder€v.€Raskinóó,€728€S.W.2dÏ343€(Tenn.€App.€1987).€€In€òòTedderóó,€the€court€was€dealing€with€aÏsituation€directly€involving€a€landlord€and€a€tenant€in€an€apart…ment€building.€€One€of€the€tenants€was€injured€when€struck€by€aÏbullet€which€came€through€the€wall€from€an€adjoining€apartment.€ÏAs€in€òòCornpropstóó,€the€court€went€into€great€detail€to€explain€theÏevolution€of€the€common€law.€€òòTedderóó€recognized€that€there€were€noÏreported€cases€on€the€landlord's€liability€for€injuries€resultingÏfrom€criminal€acts€of€third€parties€on€the€leased€premises.ÌÌà àThe€court€in€dictum€noted€some€areas€in€which€liability€couldÏbe€imposed€upon€the€landlord.€€The€court€noted:ÌÌÓÓà8 àà àOf€particular€interest€here€is€the€imposition€of€aÏduty€on€landlords€of€apartment€buildings,€and€liabilityÏfor€negligent€breach€of€that€duty,€to€take€reasonableÏprecautions€to€protect€their€tenants€from€criminal€actsÏof€third€parties€on€the€leased€premises.€Since€theÏlandlord€retains€control€over€the€common€areas€of€theÏapartment€building€and€grounds,€the€landlord€is€in€a€farÏsuperior€position€to€take€step€necessary€to€secure€theÏpremises€for€the€safety€of€the€tenants.€Like€guests€atÏinns,€tenants€in€multiple„apartment€buildings€whoseÏleases€are€often€of€short€duration€cannot€be€expectedÍindividually€to€make€the€expenditures€necessary€toÏsecure€the€common€areas€of€the€building,€for€example€byÏinstalling€locks€on€outside€entrances,€providing€ade…quate€lighting€in€hallways,€and€taking€similar€precau…tions.€The€landlord,€on€the€other€hand,€is€in€a€betterÏposition€to€provide€reasonable€security€and€spread€theÏcost€among€the€tenants.€The€imposition€by€law€of€a€dutyÏon€the€landlord€to€take€reasonable€steps€to€secure€theÏleased€premises€for€the€safety€of€the€tenants€was€thusÏmerely€a€logical€extension€of€the€existing€common€lawÏgoverning€the€special€relationship€of€innkeeper„guest.ÌÓ ` ܇XœÈ“X ÓÓÓÌà àWhile€it€appears€œin›€òòTedderóó,€œòòarguendo›óó€at€œleast,€that›€€theÏcourt€œproposed›€to€adopt€a€rule€of€law€whereby€plaintiffs€couldÏmaintain€an€action€for€an€injury€by€a€third€person€in€a€commonÏarea,€where€an€outside€entrance€was€not€locked,€the€rule€was€notÏunrestricted.€€òòTedderóó€noted€that€the€standard€adopted,€i.e.,€dueÏcare€under€the€circumstances,€must€be€resolved€on€a€case€by€caseÏbasis.× ƒ2 ××  ×€The€plaintiff€is€still€required€to€establish€that€theÏinjury€was€reasonably€foreseeable,€else€"the€criminal€act€of€theÏthird€party€would€be€a€superseding,€intervening€cause€of€the€harm,Ïrelieving€the€landlord€of€liability."€€òòTedderóó,€at€œpage›€349.ÌÌà àIn€determining€whether€a€injury€was€foreseeable,€it€becomesÏnecessary€to€address€the€concept€of€notice.€€"We€do€not€perceiveÏthis€extension€of€the€common€law€as€placing€an€undue€burden€onÏlandlords.€As€in€other€negligence€actions,€the€plaintiff€will€haveÏto€prove€that€the€landlord€was€on€notice€of€an€unreasonable€riskÏor€likelihood€of€danger€to€his€tenants€caused€by€a€conditionÏwithin€his€control.€Once€notice€sufficient€to€cause€a€reasonablyÏprudent€person€to€foresee€the€probability€of€harm€is€received,€theÏduty€to€act€arises€and€the€failure€to€take€reasonable€steps€toÏcorrect€the€problem€within€a€reasonable€time€is€a€breach€of€thatÏduty."€€òòTedderóó,€page€œ348.›ÌÌà àUnder€the€undisputed€facts€and€circumstances,€the€defendantsÏhere€had€no€notice€that€would€cause€a€reasonably€prudent€person€toÏforesee€that€the€criminal€act€of€a€third€person€would€result€in€anÏinjury€to€one€of€its€tenants,€especially€in€view€of€the€securityÏmeasures€provided€at€the€entrance€to€each€individual€apartment.Ï"We€hold€that€if€the€owner€is€to€be€held€liable€for€the€suddenÏcriminal€acts€of€third€persons€there€must€be€a€showing€that€theÏowner€was€on€notice€in€some€manner€of€the€imminent€probability€ofÍthe€act.€Otherwise,€there€can€be€no€issue€for€jury€determination.€ÏThere€is€no€such€showing€in€this€œrecord.€...€."›€€òòDoe€v.€LinderÏConstr.€Coóó.,€845€S.W.2d€173€(Tenn.€1992),€citing€òòCornpropstóó,ÏSupra,€at€192€and€òòœCorbitt›€v.€œRingley›„œCrockett›,€Incóó.,€496€S.W.2dÏ914€(Tenn.€App.€œ1973).›ÌÌà àOrdinarily,€the€proximate€cause€of€an€injury€is€for€the€jury,Ïbut,€where€the€facts€are€not€controverted,€the€question€of€proxi…mate€or€intervening€cause€is€for€the€trial€court.€€òòœBrodie›€v.ÏMilleróó,€143€S.W.2d€1042,€1045€(Tenn.€App.€1940)€(citing€òòSoutheast…ern€Greyhound€Lines€v.€Grovesóó,€136€S.W.2d€512,€513€(Tenn.€1940)).€ÏòòDoe€v.€Linder€Constr.€Coóó.,€supra.ÌÌà àIn€our€view,€it€is€unreasonable€to€require€a€landlord€toÏprovide€a€locked€exterior€door€from€a€common€area€to€the€outsideÏwhen€each€individual€apartment€is€equipped€with€a€door€suitableÏfor€exterior€use.€€To€so€require€would€appear€to€put€œlandlords›€atÏrisk€who€let€apartments€in€buildings€which€have€direct€access€fromÏthe€outside.€€A€landlord€œis€not€an›€insurer€of€œhis›€tenant.€€SimplyÏstated,€"one€door€is€enough."ÌÌà àFrom€the€undisputed€facts€before€the€court,€we€are€of€theÏopinion€that€the€defendants'€motion€for€summary€judgment€wasÏappropriate.€€There€is€no€genuine€issue€of€a€matter€of€fact€andÏthe€defendants€are€entitled€to€judgment€as€a€matter€of€law.ÌÌà àThe€trial€court€is€affirmed€in€all€respects.€€Costs€are€taxedÏto€the€appellants€and€this€case€is€remanded€to€the€trial€court€forÏthe€collection€thereof.ÌÌÌÓÓà€ à______________________________Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€Don€T.€McMurray,€J.ÌÌÌÌCONCUR:ÌÌÌ_________________________________ÌHerschel€P.€Franks,€J.ÌÌÌ_________________________________ÌClifford€E.€Sanders,€Senior€JudgeÌœÇÑ  ÑÑ7€õõXXdÈXXdÈ7Ñà@ àIN€THE€COURT€OF€APPEALSÌÌÌÌÌÌÌÌDONNA€JUNE€ARCHER€and€JAMES€€€€€)à àHAWKINS€CIRCUITÌDAVID€ARCHER,€Individually€and€€)à àC.A.€NO.€03A01„9511„CV„00417Ìas€Administrators€of€the€Estate€)Ìof€VERNA€LEE€ARCHER,€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€Plaintiffs„Appellants€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ìvs.€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àHON.€JOHN€K.€WILSONÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)à àJUDGEÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)ÌBURTON€PLAZA€ASSOCIATES,€LTD.,€€)à àAFFIRMED€AND€REMANDEDÌand€AMERICAN€MANAGEMENT€COMPANY,)ÌINC.,€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)€Ì€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€)Ì€€€€€€€€€€Defendants„Appellees€€)ÌÌÌ›œ€Ìà@ àò òòòORDERóóó óÌÌÌÓÓà àThis€appeal€came€on€to€be€heard€upon€the€record€from€theÏCircuit€Court€of€Hawkins€County,€briefs€and€argument€of€counsel.€ÍUpon€consideration€thereof,€this€Court€is€of€the€opinion€thatÏthere€was€no€reversible€error€in€the€trial€court.Ìà àThe€trial€court€is€affirmed€in€all€respects.€€Costs€are€taxedÏto€the€appellants€and€this€case€is€remanded€to€the€trial€court€forÏthe€collection€thereof.ÌÌ€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€€PER€CURIAMÌ›