Can a store owner deny you access to there services and premises for no reason?
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Can a store owner deny you access to there services and premises for no reason?
I went to the store near my house the owner denied me service. Also he told his employees to not allow me in the store. I have never stole,caused a scene, loitering has never taken place, and I have never harassed any other customers or been loud and obnoxious. I feel that he is simply denying me service because he does not like me, why I have no idea but it’s literally amazing how I can be denied and kicked out for literally no reason besides the fact he says,
Asked on October 1, 2019 under Business Law, Massachusetts
Answers:
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 4 years ago | Contributor
First of all, private property is any property owned by private individuals/entities and not by the government or reserved for public use. Further, people/entities who own property have the right to manage and control it as they deem appropriate. Accordingly, a business owner is within their rights to establish rules for admitting or banning people from the property. That having been said, in a case where an individual is prevented from entering a property, the prohibition cannot be based on the individual being a member of a "protected class" (i.e. a class based on race, religion, nationality, gender, sexual oreintation, disability or age).
M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 4 years ago | Contributor
First of all, private property is any property owned by private individuals/entities and not by the government or reserved for public use. Further, people/entities who own property have the right to manage and control it as they deem appropriate. Accordingly, a business owner is within their rights to establish rules for admitting or banning people from the property. That having been said, in a case where an individual is prevented from entering a property, the prohibition cannot be based on the individual being a member of a "protected class" (i.e. a class based on race, religion, nationality, gender, sexual oreintation, disability or age).
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