An employer is held liable for the torts of its employee committed within the scope of their employment. This is referred to as:

The principle of respondeat superior holds that an employer can be held liable for the actions of its employees when those actions occur within the course of their employment duties. This legal doctrine is rooted in the idea that employers have control over their employees and are therefore responsible for their conduct in performing job-related tasks. When employees engage in actions—whether intentional or negligent—that lead to harm or injury to others, the employer may be required to compensate the injured parties.

In practice, this means that if an employee causes an accident while driving a company vehicle for business purposes, the employer could be held liable for damages arising from that incident. This principle is significant in the fields of tort law and employment law as it underscores the responsibility of employers to ensure proper training and supervision of employees to minimize the risk of harm to third parties.

The other terms listed refer to different legal concepts. Parens patriae pertains to the state's role in protecting individuals who are unable to care for themselves. Substituted judgment is often used in contexts involving decisions for individuals who cannot make their own choices, typically in healthcare. Corporate privilege refers to protections granted to corporations against certain legal actions or liabilities, which is a distinct concept from the vicarious liability established by respondeat superior.