turntable doctrine

Also termed "attractive nuisance" doctrine (attractive nuisance doctrine).

This doctrine requires the owner of premises not to attract or lure children into unsuspected danger or great bodily harm, by keeping thereon attractive machinery or dangerous instrumentalities in an exposed and unguarded condition, and where injuries have been received by a child so enticed the entry is not regarded as unlawful, and does not necessarily preclude a recovery of damages; the attractiveness of the machine or structure amounting to an implied invitation to enter. It imposes a liability on a property owner for injuries to a child of tender years, resulting from something on his premises that can be operated by such a child and made dangerous by him, and which is attractive to him and calculated to induce him to use it, where he fails to protect the thing so that a child of tender years cannot be hurt by it.

Doctrine is that who maintains or creates upon his premises or upon the premises of another in any public place an instrumentality or condition which may reasonably be expected to attract children of tender years and to constitute a danger to them is under duty to take the precautions that a reasonably prudent person would take under similar circumstance, to prevent injury to such children. Schock v. Ringling Bros, and Barnum & Bailey Combined Shows, 5 Wash.2d 599, 105 P.2d 838, 843.

The dangerous and alluring qualities of a railroad turntable gave the "attractive nuisance rule" the name of "Turntable Doctrine." Louisville & N. R. Co. v. Vaughn, 292 Ky. 120, 166 S.W.2d 43, 46.

See also attractive nuisance doctrine