Ontario Barrister and Solicitor Practice Exam 2025 - Free Barrister and Solicitor Practice Questions and Study Guide

The scenario of a delivery driver causing an accident while delivering goods perfectly exemplifies vicarious liability because it highlights the legal principle where an employer can be held liable for the actions of its employees when those actions occur in the course of their employment. Here, the delivery driver is performing a task that is within the scope of their job responsibilities—delivering goods. Therefore, if the driver causes an accident while engaged in this work-related task, the employer could be held responsible for any damages resulting from that accident under the doctrine of vicarious liability.

In contrast, the other scenarios do not align as closely with vicarious liability. For instance, if an employee uses their car for personal errands during lunch, this action is not work-related, and therefore, the employer generally wouldn’t be liable for any accidents that occur during that time. Similarly, an employee sharing company secrets with competitors represents a breach of confidentiality that falls outside the ordinary scope of employment, meaning the employer would not be vicariously liable. Lastly, an employee taking extended leave without notice pertains to employment policy and could lead to disciplinary action, but it does not involve actions directly causing harm to a third party that could invoke vicarious liability.