Business Torts and Ethics
Business Torts and Ethics
Large or small businesses runs into trouble at some time. Business owners need to be aware and prepared for when those times come around. Learning the liabilities and risks that business can face is very important when owning a business of any sort. According to “Business Torts” (2015), “business tort is a wrongful act committed against a business that is considered a civil wrongdoing, not a criminal offense.” As owner of University Heights Apartment, there was an incident one evening at tenant Sharon’s apartment. An intruder attacked her and resident manager Darryl; who was trying to help Sharon. Both Sharon and Darryl were able to drive the intruder off but they were both badly cut by the intruder.
Is the intruder liable for what he has done? Why or why not? Of course the intruder should be responsible for what he has done. The intruder was the one performed an intentional tort, which include actions as assault, battery, trespass, and false imprisonment (“Business Torts And Crimes”, n.d.). This intruder decides to trespass by breaking into the home and then using a weapon to cut both Sharon and Darryl are consider assault and battery. A civil suit can be filed against the intruder.
Do I have legal responsibilities to Sharon and Darryl? Why or why not? As the owner of Univeristy Heights Apartment, I will be legally responsible for Sharon if I did not do my job on making sure that the locks on sliding door were lockable. But in this case, it is not my responsible to make sure that the tenants lock their doors and protect them. Therefore, I am not liable for any damage or injuries that Sharon occurred during the attack. In the case of the resident manager Darryl, I am responsible because during the time that he was still working he got injured at work. Darryl would then have worker’s compensation to assist with his injuries and if needed, time off to heal.
Do I have ethical responsibilities to Sharon and Darryl? Explain. Of course as a landlord, I must make sure that anything like this does not happen again. I will continue to reassure them both that I will consider any further accommodations