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Liability for Employees' Intentional Torts: A Growing Concern for Hospitals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 April 2021

Edward E. Hollowell
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Abstract

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Type
Hospital Law Review
Information
Law, Medicine and Healthcare , Volume 12 , Issue 2 , April 1984 , pp. 68 - 79
Copyright
Copyright © American Society of Law, Medicine and Ethics 1984

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References

See generally Hospital Corporate Negligence §1, in Horty, J.F., Hospital Law (Action Kit far Hospital Law, Pittsburgh, Penna.) (1978–1981); Zaremski, H.J. Spitz, M., Liability of a Hospital as an Institution: Are the Walls of Jericho Tumbling? Forum 16 (2): 225 (Fall 1980).Google Scholar
Seneris v. Haas, 291 P.2d 915 (Cal. 1955); Webb v. Priest, 413 So.2d 43 (Fla. App. 1982); Themins v. Emanuel Lutheran Charity Bd., 637 P.2d 155 (Or. App. 1981); Irving v. Doctors Hosp. of Lake Worth, Inc., 415 So. 2d 55 (Fla. App. 1982); Holton v. Resurrection Hosp., 410 N.E.2d 969 (Ill. App. 1980). See generally Stanczk, Moffitt, Hospitals, Physicians, and Their Liability Carriers: Ostensible Authority; Enterprise Liability, and Beyond, Federation Insurance Counsel Quarterly 31: 199 (1981).Google Scholar
Lundberg v Bay View Hosp., 191 N.E.2d 821 (Ohio 1963); Grewe v. Mt. Clemens Gen. Hosp., 273 N.W.2d 429 (Mich. 1979). But see Gasbarra v. St. James Hosp., 406 N.E.2d 544 (Ill. App. 1980) (supplemental opinion on denial of rehearing) (no equitable estoppel found, because plaintiff did not charge reliance on defendant's conduct).Google Scholar
Johnson v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 355 F. Supp. 1065, 1066–67 (E.D. Wis. 1973). See also Thomas v. St. Joseph Hosp., 618 S.W.2d 791 (Tex. Civ. App. 1981) (hospital may be deemed seller and thus may be held strictly liable for death caused by patient's dropping lighted match on highly flammable gown).Google Scholar
See generally Prosser, W., Law of Torts (West Publishing Co., St. Paul) (4th ed. 1971) at 28–97.Google Scholar
See, e.g., Arthur v. St. Peters Hosp., 405 A.2d 443 (N.J. Super. 1979).Google Scholar
Prosser, supra note 5, at 460.Google Scholar
Restatement (Second) of Agency §§229–236, 245 (1957).Google Scholar
Prosser, supra note 5, at 461. The leading case in this area is Limpus v. London Gen. Omnibus Co., 158 Eng. Rep. 993 (1862). See also Duggins v. Watson, 15 Ark. 118 (1854).Google Scholar
See Medical Slenderizing, Inc. v. State, 579 S.W.2d 569 (Tex. Civ. App. 1979) (weight reduction clinic held liable for violation of an injunction after an employee made misrepresentations that were forbidden by a newly-issued personnel manual).Google Scholar
See generally Brill, R.L., The Liability of an Employer for the Wilful Torts of his Servants, Chicago-Kent Law Review 45(1): 1 (Spring/Summer 1968).Google Scholar
Restatement (second) of Agency §245 (1957).Google Scholar
Mattocks v. Bell, 194 A.2d 307, 308 (D.C. 1963).Google Scholar
Nelson v. Rural Educ. Ass'n, 134 S.W.2d 181, 192 (Tenn. App. 1939).Google Scholar
St. Pierre v. State, 33 N.Y.S.2d 151 (N.Y. 1943), affirming, 45 N.Y.S.2d 354 (N.Y. App. Div. 1943).Google Scholar
Restatement (Second) of Agency §225 (1957).Google Scholar
Id. comment a.Google Scholar
Sokolow v. City of Hope, 262 P.2d 841 (Cal. 1953).Google Scholar
Bernstein, A.H., A Trustee's Guide to Hospital Law (Teach ‘em, Inc., Chicago, Ill.) (1981) at 334.Google Scholar
The defense of privilege may be recognized when the defendant has acted to further an interest of such importance to society that social policy will best be served by permitting the act, at the expense of damage to the plaintiff. Prosser, supra note 5, at 98.Google Scholar
See generally Prosser, supra note 5, at 101–08.Google Scholar
Id. at 98–138.Google Scholar
See Note, Respondeat Superior and the Intentional Tort: A Short Discourse on How to Make Assault and Battery a Part of the Job, University of Cincinnati Law Review 45(2): 235, 241–43 (1976).Google Scholar
See generally 53 Am. Jur. 2d Master and Servant §438 (1970); Wellman v. Pacer Oil Co., 504 S.W.2d 55 (Mo. 1973), cert. denied, 416 U.S. 961 (1974); Howard v. Zaney Bar, 85 A.2d 401 (Pa. 1952).Google Scholar
Note, supra note 23, at 242; Fisher v. Hering, 97 N.E.2d 553 (Ohio App. 1948).Google Scholar
The California courts and the Second Circuit have adopted a foreseeability test in this area which appears to use “arising out of the employment”as grounds for employee liability. Under such a test, the employer is more likely to be liable for an employee's intentional torts than under the “scope of employment”rule. See Fields v. Sanders, 180 P.2d 684, 690 (Cal. 1947) (driver of oil truck collided with plaintiff; after quarrel, driver hit plaintiff with wrench; employer held liable); Ira S. Rushey & Sons, Inc. v. United States, 398 F.2d 167 (2d Cir. 1968) (conduct of intoxicated seaman in sinking drydock held foreseeable).Google Scholar
See, e.g., Harrison v. Piedmont Hosp., 274 S.E.2d 72 (Ga. App. 1980); Elam v. College Park Hosp., 183 Cal. Rptr. 156 (Cal. App. 1982); Johnson v. Misericordia Comm. Hosp., 301 N.W.2d 156 (Wis. 1981); Robinson v. Duszynski, 243 S.E.2d 148 (N.C. App. 1978).Google Scholar
See, e.g., Darling v Charlestown Comm. Memorial Hosp., 211 N.E.2d 253 (Ill. 1965); Elam v. College Park Hosp., supra note 27. See also Bost v. Riley, 262 S.E.2d 391 (N.C. App.), disc, rev. denied, 269 S.E.2d 621 (N.C. 1980) (recognizing doctrine of corporate negligence and its applicability to negligent hiring).Google Scholar
Restatement (Second) of Torts §317 (1963).Google Scholar
Id. comment c.Google Scholar
Id.Google Scholar
Elam imposed liability for negligent screening for competency of hospital staff. Elam v. College Park Hosp., supra note 27, at 164–65.Google Scholar
Annot., 51 A.L.R.3d 981, 984 (1973).Google Scholar
Id.Google Scholar
Lewis v Columbus Hosp., 151 N.Y.S.2d 391, 394 (N.Y. App. Div. 1956) (hospital held not liable for negligent selection of intern because of lack of proof of incompetence and causation), citing Hamburger v. Cornell, 148 N.E. 539, 542 (N.Y. 1925) (other citation omitted).Google Scholar
Hipp v Hospital Auth. of Marietta, 121 S.E.2d 273 (Ga. App. 1961).Google Scholar
Wilson N Jones Memorial Hosp. v. Davis, 553 S.W.2d 180 (Tex. Civ. App. 1977) (punitive damages awarded).Google Scholar
Robinson v Duszynski, 243 S.E.2d 148, 152 (N.C. App, 1978).Google Scholar
301 N.W.2d 156 (Wis. 1981).Google Scholar
Mitchell County Hosp. Auth. v. Joiner, 189 S.E.2d 412, 414 (Ga. 1972).Google Scholar
Johnson v Misericordia Comm. Hosp., supra note 39, at 172.Google Scholar
Id. at 174.Google Scholar
Southwick, A.R., Hospital Liability: Two Theories Have Been Merged, Journal of Legal Medicine 4(1): 1, 3 (March 1983).Google ScholarPubMed
Prosser, supra note 5, at 465.Google Scholar
Southwick, supra note 43, at 3.Google Scholar
Grimsby v Samson, 530 P.2d 291 (Wash. 1975) (abandonment of patient by physician).Google Scholar
Bost v. Riley, supra note 28 at 396.Google Scholar
Cucalon v State, 427 N.Y.S.2d 149 (N.Y. Ct. Cl. 1980) (rape of female patient by medical technician).Google Scholar
Marek v Professional Health Services, Inc., 432 A.2d 538 (N.J. Super. 1981) (corporation liable for negligence of independent contractor radiologist).Google Scholar
Banyas v Lower Bucks Hosp., 437 A.2d 1236 (Pa. Super. 1981).Google Scholar
Id. at 1237–38.Google Scholar
Vannah v Hart Private Hosp., 117 N.E. 328 (Mass. 1917).Google Scholar
Id. at 330.Google Scholar
Galesburg Sanitarium v. Jacobson, 103 Ill. App. 26 (1902).Google Scholar
Stone v. William M. Eisen Co., 114 N.E. 44 (N.Y. 1916).Google Scholar
Cornell v State, 389 N.E.2d 1064, 1065 (N.Y. 1979) (homosexual rape of minor by attendant) (no negligent hiring or retention found).Google Scholar
Townsend v Kiracoff, 545 F. Supp. 465, 468–69 (D.C. Col. 1982).Google Scholar