Section 17 Introduction

• Library: Employer-Employee Law 2008

An employer could, in principle, be held vicariously liable under the doctrine of respondeat superior for an act of violence committed by its employee. The requirements for respondeat superior liability, however, make it difficult to establish in workplace violence cases because the employee’s actions must have been within the scope of employment. Violent acts such as assault, rape, or murder are generally not within the scope of employment, even if occurring in the midst of an employee’s work day while...