Legal responsibility imposed on one party for the wrongful acts of another, typically based on a special relationship like employer-employee. The liable party may not have done anything wrong themselves.
From Latin 'vicarius' (substitute, deputy) and 'liabilitas' (responsibility). The concept developed in English law to ensure adequate compensation for victims by holding responsible parties with deeper pockets accountable for their agents' actions.
Vicarious liability is the legal version of 'you break it, you bought it' applied to human relationships! Even if the boss never told the employee to cause harm, the employer can still be liable under the theory that they chose the employee, trained them, and profit from their work - so they should bear the risk too.
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