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Laws Of Agency Fiduciary DutiesTermination_and_liabilityHARD

A California broker fails to adequately supervise a salesperson who makes unauthorized misrepresentations to a buyer about a property's condition. The buyer suffers financial losses and files a civil lawsuit against the broker. Which legal doctrine most directly supports holding the broker vicariously liable for the salesperson's unauthorized acts?

Correct Answer

A) Respondeat superior, because a broker is vicariously liable for wrongful acts of salespersons committed within the scope of their employment or association

Under the doctrine of respondeat superior, an employer or principal is vicariously liable for the wrongful acts of an employee or agent committed within the scope of their employment or association. In California, this doctrine applies to real estate brokers and their salespersons. California Business and Professions Code §10177(h) further provides that a broker may be disciplined for failure to supervise, and California courts have consistently held brokers civilly liable for salesperson misconduct occurring within the scope of the agency relationship. Respondeat superior is the most direct and established basis for vicarious liability in this scenario.

Answer Options
A
Respondeat superior, because a broker is vicariously liable for wrongful acts of salespersons committed within the scope of their employment or association
B
Ostensible agency, because the buyer reasonably believed the salesperson had authority to make representations on the broker's behalf, regardless of actual supervision
C
Negligence per se, because the broker's failure to supervise constitutes an automatic violation of a statutory duty owed directly to the buyer
D
Ratification, because the broker's failure to repudiate the salesperson's misrepresentations after learning of them constitutes implied approval of the unauthorized acts

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

respondeat_superiorvicarious_liabilitybroker_liabilitysupervision

Related Concepts

In real estate, a client is someone to whom the agent owes fiduciary duties through an agency relationship, while a customer is a third party to whom the agent owes only honesty and fair dealing.

An arrangement where a brokerage assigns separate agents within the firm to represent the buyer and seller in the same transaction, allowing each client to have dedicated representation.

A situation where a single agent or brokerage represents both the buyer and the seller in the same real estate transaction.

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