Steinmetz

Plaintiffs appeal from summary judgments in favor of defendants Stockton City Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) and California Human Development Corporation (CHDC). The lawsuit arises out of the fatal stabbing of plaintiffs’ decedent. The issue on appeal concerns a landowner’s liability for a criminal assault by a third person upon an invitee which occurs off the landowner’s premises. We shall affirm.

On the evening of March 4, 1982, decedent attended a business “mixer” sponsored by Chamber. Chamber sponsors periodic “mixers” at the request of individual area businesses. Members of the local business community are invited to attend in order to promote active commercial intercourse. Each mixer is hosted by a local business selected by Chamber. The mixer following which decedent was slain was hosted by CHDC on its business premises. These premises are located in Cherokee Industrial Park and are leased by CHDC from defendant Charles Whiteside, an owner of the industrial park.

Cherokee Industrial Park is located near Highway 99 in a rural area on the outskirts of Stockton. There are no retail businesses located in the park; the tenants are primarily manufacturers and wholesale…