Tort Negligence Liability For Principals And Agents In Franklin
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Key Takeaway. The principal will be liable for the employee's torts in two circumstances: first, if the principal was directly responsible, as in hiring a person the principal knew or should have known was incompetent or dangerous; second, if the employee committed the tort in the scope of business for the principal.
A principal can be held directly liable for their agent's tortious conduct when their agent is acting with actual or true authority on the principal's behalf.
A person is always liable for her own torts, so an agent who commits a tort is liable; if the tort was in the scope of employment the principal is liable too. Unless the principal put the agent up to committing the tort, the agent will have to reimburse the principal.
This is especially true if the third party is made aware of the agent's authority limitations. In this situation, the third party may still attempt to sue the principal for any damages caused. However, the principal can then turn around and sue the agent to recover any damages caused.
A principal may be liable for an agent's tort (1) resulting from the principal's own tortious conduct, (2) authorized by the principal, or (3) committed within the scope of the agency.
There are several key responsibilities an agent has with respect to the principal. This includes the duty of loyalty, duty to act in ance with the express and implied terms of a contract, duty of care competence, and diligence, duty of good conduct, and duty to comply with the principal's lawful instructions.
An agent is liable to a principal when he/she acts without actual authority, but with apparent authority. An agent is liable to indemnify a principal for loss or damage resulting from his/her act. A principal owes certain contractual duties to his/her agent.
Similarly, if the agent or principal loses capacity to enter into an agency relationship, it is suspended or terminated. The agency terminates if its purpose becomes illegal. Even though authority has terminated, whether by action of the parties or operation of law, the principal may still be subject to liability.
A principal can also be held vicariously liable - or indirectly liable - for their agent's tortious conduct. In this context, the agent is not acting with actual authority when committing the tort, so it is not as if the principal itself committed the tort.
A principal can be directly liable for the agent's actions when the agent is acting with actual or true authority on the principal's behalf, or the agent's conduct is ratified by the principal. Restatement (3d) of the Law of Agency, § 7.03; Restatement (3d) of the Law of Agency, § 7.04; Court Opinions.