Empire Courier Service

Dave is a driver for Empire Courier Service. Around the company, Dave is known as sort of a hothead. During his previous employment at another company, Dave had been involved in a workplace fistfight with a fellow employee, resulting in criminal charges.

One day, between deliveries and in a company vehicle, Dave decides to get lunch. While leaving the parking lot at Big Burrito Bistro, the favorite lunch spot for most Empire Courier employees, Dave negligently causes a car accident with another vehicle, resulting in injuries to Victor, the driver of the other car. As Dave and Victor are waiting on the side of the road for the police to arrive, Victor comments to Dave, “Oh, you drive for Empire Courier Service. It doesn’t surprise me that Empire hires bad drivers because their service stinks, and their prices are too high!” Dave is so offended that Victor would insult his employer’s professional reputation that he punches Victor in the face, causing Victor to suffer even more injuries. Empire Courier Service does not, as a matter of policy, do criminal background checks on its employees.

Within your paper, define agency and how an agency relationship is created. Identify the various types of agency relationships, and explain tort liability and how it relates to the agency relationship.

Then, considering the legal principles discussed in Chapter 20, explain who is liable for Dave’s negligence for causing the car accident, and explain who is liable for Dave’s intentional tort for punching Victor.

Provide your answers in a case analysis of at least two pages in length.

One source is required. Include an introduction in your paper. Adhere to APA Style when creating citations and references for this assignment.

Two Sources are attached to use with this paper.

Thank you.

Answer preview

Dave has committed two tortuous actions by causing a car accident and causing Victor to suffer physical harm through an assault. The most critical step is ascertaining the persons who accrue tort liability from these acts. On the charge of negligently causing a car accident, Empire Courier Service would be liable under vicarious liability doctrine. The inference of vicarious liability is made when an employee commits a tort when in the ordinary routine that constitutes part of his or her job mandate (Neild, 2013). The negligent conduct transpired in between deliveries when Dave had gone for lunch in a company vehicle. The fact that most employees of Empire Courier Service go for lunch at Big Burrito Bistro serves to illustrate that going for lunch at that place is an established routine in their employment. Therefore, the employer incurs liability for the negligent accident committed as Dave was leaving the parking lot.

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Empire Courier Service