Under what doctrine can a principal-employer be held liable for wrongful acts of employees?

The doctrine that allows a principal-employer to be held liable for the wrongful acts of employees is known as respondeat superior. This legal principle holds that an employer is responsible for the actions of their employees performed during the course of their employment. The rationale behind this doctrine is that employers have control over their employees and thus have a responsibility to ensure that their employees act within the boundaries of the law while performing their job duties.

In cases where an employee commits a wrongful act, if that act is related to their job and performed in the scope of their employment, the employer can be held liable for any resulting damages. This doctrine is significant in personal injury and tort law, as it helps victims seek compensation from employers rather than just individual employees who may lack the financial resources to cover damages.

The other options refer to different legal concepts. For example, res ipsa loquitur is a doctrine related to negligence, allowing inferences of negligence from the very nature of an accident. Strict liability refers to holding a party responsible for damages without needing to prove negligence or fault, often applied in cases involving inherently dangerous activities. Comparative negligence deals with the apportioning of fault between parties in a legal claim. Each of these concepts serves its own distinct purpose and does not