An invitee is someone whom a premises owner or occupier, by express or implied invitation, induces or leads to come upon his premises for any lawful purpose. Invitees comprise the broadest category of visitors to a premises and have the best chance to get compensation for their injuries. This is because invitees are owed the highest legal duty by the premises owner/occupier, who must exercise reasonable care to discover and preclude hazards that could hurt invitees. This higher duty is owed because the premises owner/occupier derives some benefit or possible benefit from having the invitee on the premises: a customer to a store is there to potentially buy things from the premises owner; a friend visiting someone’s home provides companionship; an apartment tenant pays rent.
