By Michael Shemtoub, trial attorney, Beverly Law. Updated November 2026.
Attacked at a 7-Eleven?
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When a store is responsible for a crime
A store is not an insurer of everyone’s safety. It is responsible when it knew or should have known about the risk and failed to do what a reasonable business would do about it.
California uses a sliding scale. Costly measures such as security guards require a high degree of foreseeability, which rarely exists without prior similar incidents on the premises (Ann M. v. Pacific Plaza). But when a business sees an imminent threat, it must take reasonable, relatively simple and minimally burdensome steps, like calling 911, even with no history of crime (Delgado v. Trax Bar & Grill; Castaneda v. Olsher).
Texas asks whether the risk was both unreasonable and foreseeable, judged by the proximity, recency, frequency, similarity and publicity of earlier crimes (Timberwalk Apartments v. Cain; Lefmark Management v. Old). When the owner had actual, direct knowledge that violence was about to break out, those factors are not the test (Del Lago Partners v. Smith).
Washington holds that a business owes its customers a duty to protect them from imminent criminal harm and reasonably foreseeable criminal conduct by third persons. The case was brought by a customer beaten in the parking lot of a Tacoma 7-Eleven (Nivens v. 7-11 Hoagy’s Corner). The court did not find a freestanding duty to hire guards and affirmed judgment for the store on those facts. A later case requires, where the duty rests on past experience, a history of prior similar incidents on the premises (McKown v. Simon Property Group).
Crime at 7-Eleven stores
- On July 11, 2022, six 7-Eleven stores in Southern California were robbed in one night, in Riverside, Ontario, Upland, Brea, Santa Ana and La Habra. Two people were killed and three were wounded (NBC News).
- In June 2023, five Los Angeles 7-Eleven stores were robbed at gunpoint in a single night (ABC7).
- Between July and September 2024, groups of teenagers hit Los Angeles 7-Eleven stores 14 times in “flash” robberies (CBS Los Angeles).
- In August 2026, Spokane declared the 7-Eleven at Second and Division a chronic nuisance property for the third time, after 125 police calls in two months (KXLY).
A store with that kind of history cannot say an attack was a surprise. 7-Eleven itself has promoted robbery-deterrence measures: cash control, bright lighting, clear sight lines into the store, cameras, alarms and staff training (U.S. Office of Justice Programs summary). When a store let those slip, that is evidence.
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Lawsuits over attacks at 7-Eleven
- Dallas, Texas (filed 2023). The parents of a 17-year-old shot at the 7-Eleven on Ross Avenue sued the store and 7-Eleven, alleging inadequate security, staffing and training. Allegations only; no reported outcome (Dallas Morning News).
- Chicago (settled 2019). A man was punched unconscious outside a 7-Eleven, robbed, and then run over by a taxi. The suit alleged poor training and security; it settled for an undisclosed amount (AP via Washington Times).
- Honolulu. A customer who lost a hand in a 2022 sword attack by a clerk sued, alleging negligent hiring and failure to protect customers. Allegations only (KITV).
- Pennsauken, New Jersey (decided 2020). A federal court granted 7-Eleven, Inc. summary judgment in a suit by a clerk shot in a robbery, finding the company did not control the store’s day-to-day operations (Daily Voice). The franchisee is a separate question.
What to do after an attack
- Get medical care and keep every record.
- Make sure a police report is filed and get the report number.
- Send a written request to the store and to 7-Eleven, Inc. to keep all video from inside, outside and the parking lot.
- Write down what the clerk did and did not do: whether anyone called 911, whether the door was locked, whether the attacker had been there before.
- Apply for crime-victim compensation. California: CalVCB. Texas: Crime Victims’ Compensation Program. Washington: L&I Crime Victims Compensation. These programs can pay medical bills and lost wages while the civil case goes on.
Deadlines and your share of fault
| State | Deadline to sue | Your own share of fault | Store’s notice of a hazard | Crime by a stranger |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 2 years (CCP § 335.1) | Reduces the award, never bars it (Li v. Yellow Cab) | Actual or constructive notice; a missed inspection can support an inference of notice (Ortega v. Kmart) | Sliding scale: guards need high foreseeability, simple steps are owed when a threat is imminent (Ann M.; Delgado) |
| Texas | 2 years (CPRC § 16.003) | Barred if you are more than 50% responsible (CPRC § 33.001) | Proof of how long the hazard was there is usually required (Wal-Mart v. Reece) | Five factors: proximity, recency, frequency, similarity and publicity of prior crimes (Timberwalk) |
| Washington | 3 years (RCW 4.16.080(2)) | Reduces the award, never bars it (RCW 4.22.005) | No notice needed when the way the store operates makes the hazard foreseeable (Pimentel; Johnson, 2021) | Duty against imminent harm and reasonably foreseeable crime, decided in a case against a Tacoma 7-Eleven (Nivens) |
Texas cases are handled by the firm’s Texas-licensed attorneys, Joyce Ondich and John Efstathiou.
Related pages
- 7-Eleven injury lawyer
- 7-Eleven storefront crash lawsuits
- 7-Eleven slip and fall lawsuits
- 7-Eleven parking lot and gas pump injuries
Common questions
Can I sue 7-Eleven if I was robbed or shot at the store?
Yes, when the attack was foreseeable and the store did not take reasonable steps, or when staff saw a threat and did nothing simple to stop it. The store’s history of earlier crimes at that location is usually the key evidence.
Does 7-Eleven have to hire security guards?
Not as a general rule. California requires a high degree of foreseeability, usually prior similar incidents, before a guard is required. Washington’s Supreme Court, in a 7-Eleven case, did not find a freestanding duty to hire guards. Simpler steps, like calling 911 or locking the door, can be required with less.
Can I sue if a 7-Eleven employee attacked me?
Yes. Claims can include negligent hiring, retention and supervision against the franchisee that employs the clerk, and against 7-Eleven, Inc. if it controlled hiring or supervision.
Who pays my medical bills right now?
Your health insurance, and state crime-victim compensation programs in California, Texas and Washington. Those can be repaid out of a later settlement, so keep every bill.
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Sources
- Ann M. v. Pacific Plaza Shopping Center (1993) 6 Cal.4th 666
- Delgado v. Trax Bar & Grill (2005) 36 Cal.4th 224
- Castaneda v. Olsher (2007) 41 Cal.4th 1205
- Timberwalk Apartments v. Cain, 972 S.W.2d 749 (Tex. 1998)
- Lefmark Management Co. v. Old, 946 S.W.2d 52 (Tex. 1997)
- Del Lago Partners v. Smith, 307 S.W.3d 762 (Tex. 2010)
- Nivens v. 7-11 Hoagy’s Corner, 133 Wn.2d 192 (1997)
- McKown v. Simon Property Group, 182 Wn.2d 752 (2015)
- NBC News (July 2022)
- ABC7 (June 2023)
- CBS Los Angeles (2024)
- KXLY (Aug. 2026)
- OJP abstract, 7-Eleven robbery deterrence
- Dallas Morning News (May 25, 2023)
- Washington Times (AP) (Sept. 5, 2019)
- KITV
- Daily Voice
- CalVCB
- Texas Crime Victims’ Compensation Program
- Washington L&I Crime Victims Compensation
Important: This page is general information, not legal or medical advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different; talk to a lawyer about yours. Texas cases are handled by the firm’s Texas-licensed attorneys, Joyce Ondich and John Efstathiou. Last reviewed: November 6, 2026.