Dean Crawley is a foreman for the Albuquerque Construction Co. As part of his duties, Dean often must run to the hardware store to purchase supplies when they are needed immediately for a building project. One afternoon, Dean's building crew ran out of a particular sized nail and needed 35 more right away to meet their tight project deadline. Dean went to the nearest hardware store to restock, but quickly realized he had forgotten his wallet. Rather than waste precious time retrieving his wallet, he slipped 40 nails into his pockets and walked out without paying for them. Even though Dean's actions specifically violated company policies, the company may still be held criminally responsible for his theft.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, an employer can be held liable for the actions of an employee if those actions are performed within the scope of employment, even if the actions violate company policy.

Dean Crawley Is a Foreman for the Albuquerque Construction Co