26. Liability of corporations

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Ormerod ◽  
Karl Laird
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Law ◽  
Strict Liability ◽  
Vicarious Liability ◽  
Statutory Duty ◽  
Corporate Manslaughter ◽  
Corporate Liability ◽  
Personal Liability

This chapter discusses the ways in which organizations and their members might be held liable in criminal law. It covers personal liability of individuals within an organization; vicarious liability; corporate liability: by breaching a statutory duty imposed on the organization, by committing strict liability offences, by being liable for the acts of individuals under the identification doctrine, and the specific statutory liability of organizations for homicide under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007; and liability of unincorporated associations.

25. Liability of corporations

2020 ◽  
pp. 770-800
Author(s):  
David Ormerod ◽  
Karl Laird
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Law ◽  
Strict Liability ◽  
Vicarious Liability ◽  
Statutory Duty ◽  
Corporate Manslaughter ◽  
Corporate Liability ◽  
Personal Liability

This chapter discusses the ways in which organizations and their members might be held liable in criminal law. It covers personal liability of individuals within an organization; vicarious liability; corporate liability: by breaching a statutory duty imposed on the organization, by committing strict liability offences, by being liable for the acts of individuals under the identification doctrine, and the specific statutory liability of organizations for homicide under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007; and liability of unincorporated associations.

8. Corporate and vicarious liability

2021 ◽  
pp. 259-291
Author(s):  
David Ormerod ◽  
Karl Laird
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Liability ◽  
Strict Liability ◽  
Legal Personality ◽  
Vicarious Liability ◽  
The People ◽  
Legal Identity ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Corporate Liability ◽  
Personal Liability

This chapter focuses on the potential criminal liability of organizations, particularly corporations. Corporations have a separate legal identity and are treated in law as having a legal personality distinct from the people who make up the corporation. Therefore, in theory at least, criminal liability may be imposed on the corporation separately from any liability imposed on the individual members. There are currently six ways in which a corporation or its directors may be prosecuted: personal liability of corporate directors, etc; strict liability offences; statutory offences imposing duties on corporations; vicarious liability; the identification doctrine; and statutory liability of corporate officers. The chapter also discusses the limits of corporate liability, the distinction between vicarious liability and personal duty, the application of vicarious liability, the delegation principle and the ‘attributed act’ principle. The chapter examines the failure to prevent offences found in the Bribery Act 2010 and the Criminal Finances Act 2017.

4. Strict, vicarious and corporate liability

2020 ◽  
pp. 139-183
Author(s):  
Janet Loveless ◽  
Mischa Allen ◽  
Caroline Derry
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Great Britain ◽  
Criminal Law ◽  
Strict Liability ◽  
European Convention ◽  
Mens Rea ◽  
Serious Crime ◽  
Actus Reus ◽  
Corporate Manslaughter ◽  
Corporate Liability

This chapter examines the concept of strict, vicarious and corporate liability in the context of criminal law. It discusses the implications of strict liability for actus reus and mens rea, evaluates arguments for and against strict liability, and considers the treatment of strict liability under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The chapter explains the principle of corporate liability, highlights the problems in prosecuting a corporation for a serious crime and explains/critiques the key provisions of the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act (CMCHA) 2007 in Great Britain. It also provides several examples of relevant cases and analyses the bases of court decision in each of them.

4. Strict, vicarious and corporate liability

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Janet Loveless ◽  
Mischa Allen ◽  
Caroline Derry
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
Great Britain ◽  
Criminal Law ◽  
Strict Liability ◽  
European Convention ◽  
Mens Rea ◽  
Serious Crime ◽  
Actus Reus ◽  
Corporate Manslaughter ◽  
Corporate Liability

This chapter examines the concept of strict, vicarious and corporate liability in the context of criminal law. It discusses the implications of strict liability for actus reus and mens rea, evaluates arguments for and against strict liability, and considers the treatment of strict liability under the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). The chapter explains the principle of corporate liability, highlights the problems in prosecuting a corporation for a serious crime and explains the key provisions of the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act (CMCHA) 2007 in Great Britain. It also provides several examples of relevant cases and analyses the bases of court decision in each of them.

8. Corporate and vicarious liability

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Ormerod ◽  
Karl Laird
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Liability ◽  
Strict Liability ◽  
Legal Personality ◽  
Vicarious Liability ◽  
The People ◽  
Legal Identity ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Corporate Liability ◽  
Personal Liability

This chapter focuses on the potential criminal liability of organizations, particularly corporations. Corporations have a separate legal identity, and are treated in law as having a legal personality distinct from the people who make up the corporation. Therefore, in theory at least, criminal liability may be imposed on the corporation separately from any liability imposed on the individual members. There are currently six ways in which a corporation or its directors may be prosecuted: personal liability of corporate directors, etc.; strict liability offences; statutory offences imposing duties on corporations; vicarious liability; the identification doctrine; and statutory liability of corporate officers. The chapter also discusses the limits of corporate liability, the distinction between vicarious liability and personal duty, the application of vicarious liability, the delegation principle, and the ‘attributed act’ principle. The chapter examines the failure to prevent offences found in the Bribery Act 2010 and the Criminal Finances Act 2017.

7. Parties to crime

2021 ◽  
pp. 258-309
Author(s):  
Michael J. Allen ◽  
Ian Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Law ◽  
Strict Liability ◽  
Legal Person ◽  
Vicarious Liability ◽  
Employee Relationship ◽  
The Law ◽  
Joint Enterprise ◽  
Corporate Liability

Course-focused and contextual, Criminal Law provides a succinct overview of the key areas on the law curriculum balanced with thought-provoking contextual discussion. This chapter discusses the meaning of accomplices, vicarious liability, joint enterprise liability, and corporate liability. All the parties to a crime are accomplices. The person who perpetrates the crime is the principal. Others, not being principals, who participate in the commission of an offence are referred to as accessories or secondary parties and will be liable to conviction if it is proved that they aided, abetted, counselled, or procured the commission of the crime by the principal. Vicarious liability is a form of strict liability arising from the employer–employee relationship, without reference to any fault of the employer. A corporation is a legal person and therefore may be criminally liable, even though it has no physical existence and cannot act or think except through its directors or employees.

Still Awaiting Clarity: Why Victoria’s New Civil Liability Laws for Organisational Child Abuse Are Less Helpful than They Appear

2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Griffin ◽  
Gemma Briffa
Keyword(s):  
Child Abuse ◽  
Common Law ◽  
Strict Liability ◽  
Civil Liability ◽  
Royal Commission ◽  
Duty Of Care ◽  
High Court ◽  
Vicarious Liability ◽  
Statutory Duty ◽  
Institutional Responses

In 2017 Victoria became the first Australian jurisdiction to initiate substantive reforms to its civil liability laws, to address barriers faced by plaintiffs seeking to hold institutions liable for child abuse. The new law, based on recommendations arising from a Victorian inquiry, establishes a statutory duty of care owed by organisations to take reasonable precautions against abuse of children under their care or supervision. On its face, the Wrongs Amendment (Organisational Child Abuse) Act 2017 (Vic) looks like a helpful clarification of this complex area of law. However, when viewed within the context of the work of the Royal Commission on Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, as well as common law principles – particularly strict liability in the areas of non- delegable duty and vicarious liability, and the High Court decision of Prince Alfred College Inc v ADC – we see that barriers and uncertainties remain.

4. Strict, vicarious, and corporate liability

2020 ◽  
pp. 84-98
Author(s):  
Nicola Monaghan
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Liability ◽  
Strict Liability ◽  
Mens Rea ◽  
Legal Knowledge ◽  
Criminal Offence ◽  
Vicarious Liability ◽  
Key Points ◽  
Corporate Liability ◽  
A Company

Without assuming prior legal knowledge, books in the Directions series introduce and guide readers through key points of law and legal debate. Questions, diagrams, and exercises help readers to engage fully with each subject and check their understanding as they progress. This chapter discusses the three special forms of criminal liability: strict liability (including absolute liability), vicarious liability, and corporate liability. A strict liability offence is an offence which does not require proof of at least one mens rea element. An absolute liability offence does not require proof of any mens rea elements. Vicarious liability imposes liability on the defendant for the acts or omissions of another person. Corporate liability relates to the liability of a company for a criminal offence.

6. Corporate capacity and liability

Company Law ◽  
2019 ◽  
pp. 133-168
Author(s):  
Lee Roach
Keyword(s):  
Strict Liability ◽  
Vicarious Liability ◽  
A Company ◽  
Personal Liability ◽  
Do So

This chapter focuses on the complex rules regarding who can act on behalf of the company, and how liability can be imposed on the company for the actions of others. A company can enter into a contract by affixing its common seal to the contract; by complying with the rules in ss 44(2)–(8) of the Companies Act 2006 (CA 2006); or by a person acting under the company's express or implied authority. Section 39 of the CA 2006 provides that a contract cannot be invalidated on the ground that the contract is outside the scope of the company's capacity. Meanwhile, section 40 of the CA 2006 provides that the power of the directors to bind the company, or authorize others to do so, is free of any limitation under the company's constitution. The chapter then considers the four methods of liability: personal liability; strict liability; vicarious liability; and liability imposed via attribution.

scholarly journals THE LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR CORPORATE LIABILITY FOR HOMICIDE: THE EXPERIENCE IN NIGERIA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM

2014 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Khairat Oluwakemi Akanbi
Keyword(s):  
United Kingdom ◽  
Criminal Law ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Mens Rea ◽  
The Public ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Corporate Body ◽  
Corporate Manslaughter ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Corporate Liability

In recent times, corporate homicide has become an increasingly global phenomenon. These global incidences make it imperative to have a legal framework for holding corporations liable for deaths either of employees or members of the public that occur as a result of their activities. The challenge however is in applying the traditional criminal law elements of actus reas and mens rea to a corporation, since the criminal law had developed with the natural person in mind. The aim of this paper is to examine the legal framework for corporate liability for homicide sharing the experience in Nigeria and the UK. The paper discusses the application of criminal law elements of actus reas and mens rea to a corporate body in order to justify corporate liability for homicide. It also examines the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007 of the UK which is the first legislation on corporate homicide together with theposition in Nigeria. The paper finds that the legal framework in Nigeria is inadequate to secure corporate liability for homicide. The UK provisions can thus serve as a useful model in this regard.

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