respondeat superior
noun
re·spon·de·at superior
ri-ˈspän-dē-ət-
: a doctrine in tort law that makes a master liable for the wrong of a servant
specifically
: the doctrine making an employer or principal liable for the wrong of an employee or agent if it was committed within the scope of employment or agency
to recover…upon a theory of respondeat superior, it is incumbent upon plaintiff to prove that the collision occurred while the driver was within the scope of his employment —
Perdue v. Mitchell, 373 So. 2d 650 (1979)
compare scope of employment, vicarious liability at liability sense 2b
Perdue v. Mitchell, 373 So. 2d 650 (1979) Dictionary Entries Near respondeat superior
Cite this Entry
“Respondeat superior.” Merriam-Webster.com Legal Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/legal/respondeat%20superior. Accessed 10 Feb. 2025.
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