HARTFORD — A new ruling by the Connecticut Supreme Court found that the Town of Enfield – not property owners – is liable for any injuries sustained on icy sidewalks.
Under the law, passed Monday, home and business owners are still responsible for clearing their sidewalks, but are not liable for any injuries sustained if they do not.
The ruling stems from the case of Patricia Robinson, who slipped on a patch of ice on a sidewalk in December 2009.
Robinson sued the property owners, and her lawyer argued they were negligent for not shoveling their sidewalk.
But the court disagreed, and ruled that – even though the owners were responsible for clearing their own sidewalk – Enfield never explicitly made anyone liable for injuries that occurred if they did not.
Enfield is now liable for any slips on icy sidewalks, unless the town enacts specific legislation shifting that responsibility to home and business owners.
