“Vicarious liability can extend beyond employment to other relationships resembling employment.”
A prisoner working in a prison kitchen negligently dropped a sack of rice on a catering manager's back, injuring her. The question was whether the Ministry of Justice could be vicariously liable for a prisoner's negligent act.
Whether vicarious liability can apply to relationships other than employment, specifically the relationship between prison authorities and working prisoners.
The Supreme Court held that the Ministry of Justice was vicariously liable for the prisoner's negligent act.
This case significantly extends vicarious liability beyond employment relationships, establishing that relationships 'akin to employment' can suffice. It represents a major development in tort law, expanding potential liability for institutions managing non-employee workers.
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OSCOLA Citation
Cox v Ministry of Justice [2016] UKSC 10
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