New York Paralegal Blog

Ever heard the saying "the buck stops here"? Well, in the legal world, sometimes the "buck" doesn't just stop with the person who directly caused a problem. That's where a fancy-sounding legal term called "respondeat superior" comes into play. Don't let the Latin scare you off! It's actually a pretty straightforward idea that affects everyday life. Simply put, respondeat superior basically means that an employer can be held responsible for the actions of their employees, as long as those actions happened while the employee was doing their job. Think of it this way: imagine a delivery driver, speeding to get packages out on time, accidentally causes a car accident. While the driver is certainly responsible for their actions, the company they work for could also be held liable. Why? Because the driver was working for the company, doing their job, when the accident occurred. It's all about the "scope of employment." This is the ...

Yesterday, a somber chapter closed in a case that highlights the critical importance of workplace safety and honest accountability. Richard Zagger, a 58-year-old supervisor from Blue Point, New York, received a sentence of one year in prison and two years of supervised release. His crime? Conspiracy and obstruction of justice in connection with a fatal construction accident. This tragic story began when Zagger, overseeing a project for Northridge Construction Corporation in East Patchogue, Long Island, was in charge of assembling a metal shed. During the construction, a horrific accident occurred: one of the employees fell from the improperly secured shed roof and died. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the agency responsible for ensuring safe working conditions, launched an investigation. What they found was deeply concerning: multiple violations of worker safety standards. A key issue was the failure to keep the metal structure stable throughout the construct...