Which doctrine holds an employer liable for acts of the employee?

• A. Respondeat Superior
• B. Sovereign Immunity
• C. Vicarious Liability
• D. Personal Liability

Answer: (A)

Respondeat Superior is the rule that an employer can be held responsible for the actions of its employees when those actions are performed within the course and scope of employment. This doctrine rests on the idea that employers control and benefit from their workers’ activities, and they can better absorb or insure against the risks those activities create. For example, if a employee causes a automobile accident while delivering goods as part of their job, the employer can be liable if the act occurred within the scope of employment. If the employee acts on a personal errand far outside their duties (a frolic), the employer’s liability may not apply. Sovereign Immunity refers to government protections that limit lawsuits against the state or its agencies, not typical private employers. Personal Liability means the individual worker would be responsible, not the employer. Vicarious Liability is the general idea of one party being liable for another’s actions, but the specific doctrine that makes the employer liable for employee acts in the work context is Respondeat Superior.