Which exceptions limit the doctrine of respondeat superior?

• A. Charitable immunity and governmental immunity
• B. Personal liability of employees
• C. No exceptions exist
• D. Only civil cases are affected

Answer: (A)

Respondeat superior means an employer can be held liable for harm caused by employees acting within the scope of work. But there are carve-outs where that liability doesn’t automatically apply. Charitable immunity and governmental immunity are classic examples of limits to this doctrine. Charitable immunity shields certain charitable organizations from vicarious liability for their workers’ torts, recognizing a policy goal of preserving charitable services. Governmental immunity similarly protects government entities from liability for acts of their employees in specific circumstances, though waivers or exceptions can exist under law. Because these immunities override the usual transfer of liability from employee to employer, they’re the best choices for “exceptions that limit the doctrine.”

The other options don’t fit as true limits. Personal liability of employees isn’t an exception that removes the employer’s vicarious liability—it’s a separate avenue of liability that can run alongside the employer’s. Saying there are no exceptions is incorrect, and claiming only civil cases are affected misstates how respondeat superior and its carve-outs operate.