The legal principle under which an employer is vicariously liable for the torts of an employee acting within the course and scope of employment.

• A. Joint and several liability
• B. Respondeat superior
• C. Wrongful discharge
• D. Common-law system

Answer: (B)

Respondeat superior is the doctrine that makes an employer legally responsible for torts committed by an employee while the employee is acting within the course and scope of employment. When a worker is performing duties or acting to benefit the employer, the employer can be held liable for the harm caused, even though the employer didn’t personally commit the wrong. The key point is the relationship between employer and employee and the employee’s actions in furthering work-related tasks; deviations like a brief detour can keep the employer liable if tied to the job, while a pure personal frolic typically would not. This is why it best fits the scenario of vicarious liability for employee torts. The other options describe different concepts: joint and several liability concerns multiple liable parties, wrongful discharge is an employment claim, and the common-law system is the broad framework, not the specific liability rule at issue.