Key point 10-02. The doctrine of respondeat superior imposes vicarious liability on employers for the negligent acts of their employees committed within the scope of their employment.
Key point 10-18.2. Most courts have refused to hold denominational agencies liable for the acts of affiliated ministers and churches, either because of First Amendment considerations or because the relationship between the denominational agency and affiliated church or minister is too remote to support liability.
Key point 10-17.1. Punitive damages are monetary damages awarded by a jury "in addition to compensation for a loss sustained, in order to punish, and make an example of, the wrongdoer." They are awarded when a person's conduct is reprehensible and outrageous. Most church insurance policies exclude punitive damages. This means that a jury award of punitive damages represents an uninsured risk.
A federal ...
Join now to access this member-only content
Become a Member
Already a member? Log in for full access.
Related ResourcesVisit Store
Your Complete Guide to Virtual Church Meetings
A toolkit for legal and compliant business meetings
Pastor, Church & Law, Fifth Edition
Learn which local, state, and federal laws apply to religious organizations.
Mandatory Child Abuse Reporting Laws
State by state laws to report child abuse.
Church Issues: Waivers and Release Forms and Church Liability
What these documents do—and don't do—based on statutes and court decisions made nationwide.
