Vicarious Liability for the Wrongs of Employees
By Richard R. Hammar, J.D., LL.M., CPA
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It is a well--established principle of law that an employer is responsible for the civil wrongs committed by an employee in the course of employment. This vicarious or imputed liability of an employer for the misconduct of an employee is based largely on two considerations. First, it is assumed that the damages and injuries inflicted as a result of the operations of a particular enterprise should be borne by the enterprise itself and made a cost of doing business through price adjustments or liability insurance. Second, it is assumed that vicarious liability will tend to make employers more careful in the selection, training, and supervision of employees.1
The potential legal liability of an employer for the misconduct of its employees is discussed in detail in Negligence as a Basis for Liability.
For related information on this topic see the following articles: