In certain circumstances, yes. Property owners or possessors are not only required to protect their guests from becoming injured by hazardous features such as loose floorboards, defective elevators, and cracked sidewalks. They also must protect their guests from injuries by criminal activity that they know or have reason to know is occurring in the area. Failure to do so is called negligent security, and it is a type of premises liability claim that may apply to: Fraternity hazing incidents in which a death occurred, if the college knew or had reason to know that hazing occurred and it could injure or kill a student. Attacks occurring in dark or infrequently traveled areas of the campus where staff failed to provide security checks, surveillance cameras, lighting, and other measures that would protect students from harm. The murder of a student by a staff member. Employers are often vicariously liable for the acts of their employees during working hours and must properly vet staff members through criminal background checks and properly license and train them to handle their responsibilities.