respondeat superior

noun | \ ri-ˈspän-dē-ət- \ | re·spon·de·at superior

1. : 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 2b : 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 2b