Q: Generally, as a victim of crime on the property of someone else, can I bring a claim against the owner?

A: Pennsylvania law provides civil remedies to victims of crime–both against the perpetrator and others who negligently allow crime to occur on their premises or property within their control. That standard requires business operators and owners, who hold their businesses open to the public, to use reasonable care to protect their patrons, while they are on the business premises from physical harm caused by the accidental, negligent, or intentional acts of third persons. In order to meet this duty, businesses need to satisfy that affirmative obligation to discover if third party harmful acts are being committed or are likely to be committed. When that is established, Pennsylvania law requires businesses to give adequate warnings to their patrons to allow them to avoid such harm or otherwise protect themselves from such danger.