Vicarious Liability Song

This is a "Law Lessong" - a law lesson in a song - that I wrote to help students consider the issues of vicarious liability -- specifically, the potential for an employer being civilly and criminally liable for the torts and crimes of their employees.


No copyright infringement is intended. This song is offered and intended for educational use only and has no commercial value.

Vicarious Liability Song
Lyrics by M. DeAngelis
Melody inspired by "Firework" by Katy Perry

Do you know that you, have a job to do
When you're at work, your boss depends on you.

Do you know that you, as an employee,
Can cause your employer, liability.

So keep your nose so clean, free of torts and crimes,
No cause for lawsuits, or anyone to drop a dime

Do you know that there's, still a chance for you,
To not be leg'lly screwed.

You just gotta do things right,
Not pre-carious,
Liability might,
Be vicarious.

Cause buddy, when you go to work,
Part of how you show your worth,
Is never goin' Uh-oh oh
Costin' your employer dough -- oh -oh

When you're on the clock for work,
Don't commit a tort, or worse,
Stay away from cri-i-ime
Or your boss may do some ti- i --ime
Let's establish first, that you're an employee,
Your employer keeps control of how you're laboring.

Now a second point, is that the acts you do,
Are within the course and scope of your employment, too.

And then if you believe, that you're acting on,
Your employer's needs and not off on your own.

Like a lightning bolt, strikes this legal rule,
The gavel will come down on you

CHORUS

Boom, boom, boom
Public policy pre-sume -- zoom -- zooms.
Your boss has got dubloo-oo- oons,
In greater store than you -- oo --o

Cause buddy, while you go to work,
Avoiding harm for all you're worth,
All the torts you do -- oo - oo
Impact your employer too -- oo - oo

When you're on the clock for work,
Do your best and not your worst,
Always acting reas'nably
Avoiding personal injury

[kevindevore]

This video has a lot of content that rings true of liability and criminal law, but with rhyme and a tune.

[DAVIDPATRICK]

Idk why i pay so much for law school, this 3:40 song taught me what my lawyer from Yale/professor couldnt do in 3 hours!

[dmayoru]

Well done Mark DeAngelis, I have been showing this video to groups of HND students in the United Kingdom when I teach the topic 'Vicarious Liability' during my Aspects of Contracts and Negligence for Business class. It has been very helpful as it breaks it down to the learners and make class more fun. Well done again as this is absolutely brilliant. Thank you !

[narink]

haha, good job with the lyrics. Thumbs up.

[profblaw]

Thank you. That's what these videos are for.

[xrtjrp-ixrb]

Nice job Sir... Katie Perry was the furthest thing from my mind when I️ listened to your song. The person it reminded me of would have sent Lawyers, guns and money... Your voice definitely sounds like Warren Zevon along with the composition of the song. Well done.... Bravo

[morganwalker]

loool it sounds like katy perry fireworks