Respondeat Superior

A legal doctrine holding employers vicariously liable for the negligent acts of employees committed within the scope of their employment. For law firms, respondeat superior means the partnership or firm entity can be held liable for a malpractice error committed by any associate, paralegal, or staff member acting within the scope of their duties. This doctrine is a primary reason that firm-wide malpractice policies must cover all attorneys and support staff, not just partners. The doctrine does not typically extend to independent contractor attorneys or of-counsel with separate practices unless the firm exercises sufficient control over their work.