"An employer is legally responsible for the wrongful acts of their employees if those acts were committed within the scope of employment."
Here's why:
* Respondeat superior is a Latin phrase meaning "let the master answer".
* It's a legal doctrine that holds employers liable for the negligent or wrongful acts of their employees, as long as those acts were committed while the employee was acting within the scope of their employment.
* This means the employer can be held responsible even if they didn't directly cause the harm.
Examples of scenarios where respondeat superior might apply:
* A delivery driver for a pizza company causes a car accident while on a delivery route.
* A retail store employee steals money from a customer's wallet.
* A doctor's assistant makes a medical error that harms a patient.
In these cases, the employer would likely be held liable for the employee's actions, even if the employer didn't directly instruct or authorize the actions.