Bodine v. Enterprise High School

Ricky Bodine, a 19-year-old high-school graduate who, with three other friends (one of whom had a criminal record), decided the night of March 1, 1982, to steal a floodlight from the roof of the Enterprise High School gymnasium. Ricky climbed the roof, removed the floodlight, lowered it to the ground to his friends, and, as he was walking across the roof (perhaps to steal a second floodlight), he fell through the skylight.

Bodine suffered terrible injuries.

Question: Is the school legally responsible for burglars’ safety?

Bodine sued for $8 million and settled for $260,000 plus $1200/month for life.