The dour-looking man settled himself behind but uncomfortably close to the podium, looking expectantly at the C.D.S.P. ambassador. Bell, for his part, was doing any tantrum-filled six year old proud, taking so long to walk to the front of the room.
It was an agonizing several minutes, but the debate hall is only so long. Bell tapped the mic a few times and sighed directly into it.
"Your various Excellencies, Ambassadors, Sirs and Madams, Lords and Ladies, Princes and Princesses, Heads of State, Ministers, Directors, Secretaries-ow!"
The grey man straightened, recovering from the kick to Bell's shin.
"And lawyers" Bell growled the last word, "I present, with all the apologies I can muster, Hershal Crawford IV, partner of Herbert, Crawford, and Eschellmensteinburg - wait, seriously? Ok - and Eschellmensteinburg, L.L.P. and special counsel from the Confederate Dominion Foreign Affairs Ministry."
Bell looks over his shoulder at the attorney, who nods.
"I have been directed, upon advice from counsel and threats by my gover-"
Crawford vigorously signals for Bell to stop.
"Directed upon advice from my counsel to submit the following draft for your review."
Crawford nods.
Respondeat Superior
Regulation | Legal Reform
Noting an ominous silence surrounding the topic of tort reform
Believing that tort reform serves as an effective alternative to industry regulation by providing an opportunity for injured individuals to hold liable their institutional tortfeasors,
Holding that expanding the duty of business entities to the actions of their employees protects employees, allows adequate compensation to victims, promotes higher standards for safe conduct, and spreads the cost of risk equitably,
Disdainful of industry practices that allow business to use employees as shields against incentivized or overt negligence, and
Determined to prevent it,
The World Assembly hereby enacts the following:
- A plaintiff in a noncriminal case against a single defendant may enjoin and hold liable the defendant's employer where the defendant:
- had an employer-employee relationship with the enjoined business;
- Was acting in the scope of employment at that time; and
- Was the proximate cause of the damage to the plaintiff.
- A plaintiff who wins a judgment in such a case may enforce judgment against both the employer and employee, jointly and severally.
- An employer may seek indemnity from an employee for costs incurred only when the employee’s actions were reckless or intentional. In situations where a cross-claim is procedurally inappropriate, member states may not hold such claims precluded until that claim is tried on its merits.
- Member states may award non-compensatory damages in such a case only when failing to do so would be a manifest injustice.
"You will notice that there are no definitions." Bell looks at the attorney for confirmation that this was, in fact, admissible information. "That was deliberate. The definition section could easily become a legal textbook in its own right.
Crawford leans over and whispers in Bell's ear. "To which all intellectual and marketing rights, including reproductions, references, and incorporation would be retained by Herbert, Crawfor-are you really doing this right now, Crawford?"
Crawford leans in to whisper to Bell again, but Bell just leans into the microphone. "Look, just tell me what you think this needs."