1. (b) That's right. In Australian law, a person can be held liable in tort for the acts or omissions of another person. This is referred to as 'vicarious' liability. The word comes from the Latin vicarius meaning ‘substituted’.

Transferring liability in this way is useful to give plaintiffs access to a defendant more able to pay compensation, to spread loss throughout the community, and to deter dangerous practices.

To establish vicarious liability, the plaintiff must prove that a relationship existed between the defendant and the wrongdoer, making the defendant responsible for the harm caused by the wrongdoer. There are various relationships of this kind. Principals can be vicariously liable for the acts of their agents, partners for the acts of their fellow partners, and employers for the acts of their employees.