Quote Originally Posted by Jessika View Post
See I believe it is if its on private property. Like shoveling your driveway - no one says you HAVE to do it. I've never lived somewhere with a sidewalk in my front yard to know, but I do think that maybe you had to because of a neighborhood association? I know they "are law", so if they say you have to do it then you have to do it, but as far as legalities go outside of that, it just depends - WHO'S property is it on, public or private?

If someone slips on my sidewalk in my yard, then they were trespassing. If someone slips on walmart's sidewalk because they didn't ice it, that's a private property and I'm sure you could sue walmart. If someone slips on a sidewalk at the park, that's the city's duty.

I could be wrong, but this makes sense in my head.
There's such a thing as "easement" which grants the right from one property owner to another to use a portion of his land for a specific purpose, in this case, a sidewalk. I can't say that I totally understand the law, not being an attorney, but I do know from experience that it gives me the right to walk up to someone's door and, for example, attempt to sell my goods to the homeowner, unless there is an expressed law w/in the city limits stating otherwise. I'm probably not stating this correctly but you get my drift. So if a person slips on your sidewalk in your yard, s/he wasn't trespassing; s/he was using the easement, which is legal.