Respondeat Superior
A legal doctrine holding that an employer or principal is responsible for the actions of their employees or agents performed within the scope of their duties.
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Origin
Latin for 'let the master answer,' this doctrine traces back to Roman law and was formalized in English common law during the 17th and 18th centuries. Early cases established that masters who set servants to work bore responsibility for harm caused in the course of that work — a principle that evolved into modern employer liability.
Updated February 22, 2026