2022 Georgia Code
Title 51 - Torts
Chapter 2 - Imputable Negligence
§ 51-2-2. Liability for Torts of Spouse, Child, or Servant in Certain Instances

Every person shall be liable for torts committed by his wife, his child, or his servant by his command or in the prosecution and within the scope of his business, whether the same are committed by negligence or voluntarily.

History. Orig. Code 1863, § 2904; Code 1868, § 2910; Code 1873, § 2961; Code 1882, § 2961; Civil Code 1895, § 3817; Civil Code 1910, § 4413; Code 1933, § 105-108.

History of Code section.

The language of this Code section is derived in part from the decisions in Curtis v. Ashworth, 165 Ga. 782 , 142 S.E. 111 (1928); Dodgen v. DeBorde, 43 Ga. App. 131 , 158 S.E. 64 (1931).

Law reviews.

For comment on Durden v. Maddox, 73 Ga. App. 491 , 37 S.E.2d 219 (1946), see 9 Ga. B. J. 98 (1946).

For comment on Cohen v. Whiteman, 75 Ga. App. 286 , 43 S.E.2d 184 (1947), see 10 Ga. B. J. 222 (1947).

For comment on Woolf v. Colonial Stores, Inc., 76 Ga. App. 565 , 46 S.E.2d 620 (1948), see 11 Ga. B. J. 70 (1948).

For comment regarding joinder of master and servant as parties defendant, in light of Southern Ry. v. Garland, 76 Ga. App. 729 , 47 S.E.2d 93 (1948), see 11 Ga. B. J. 226 (1948).

For comment on Colonial Stores, Inc. v. Sasser, 79 Ga. App. 604 , 54 S.E.2d 719 (1949), see 12 Ga. B. J. 215 (1949).

For comment on Davidson v. Harris, Inc., 81 Ga. App. 665 , 59 S.E.2d 551 (1950), see 13 Ga. B. J. 229 (1950).

For comment on Radio Cabs, Ltd. v. Tolbert, 86 Ga. App. 181 , 70 S.E.2d 260 (1952), see 15 Ga. B. J. 226 (1952).

For note, “Effect of Verdict for Employee in Joint Action Against Employer and Employee,” see 3 Mercer L. Rev. 298 (1952).

For comment on Henson v. Garnto, 88 Ga. App. 320 , 76 S.E.2d 636 (1953), regarding recovery by wife under doctrine of respondeat superior for injuries caused by husband, see 5 Mercer L. Rev. 209 (1953).

For comment discussing liability of husband to wife for tort caused by their minor child, in light of Silverman v. Silverman, 145 Conn. 663, 145 A.2d 826 (1958), see 10 Mercer L. Rev. 339 (1959).

For comment on Myrick v. Alexander, 101 Ga. App. 1 , 112 S.E.2d 697 (1960), see 22 Ga. B. J. 570 (1960).

For comment on Ferguson v. Gurley, 105 Ga. App. 575 , 125 S.E.2d 218 (1962), see 25 Ga. B. J. 209 (1962).

For comment on Marques v. Ross, 105 Ga. 133 , 123 S.E.2d 412 (1961), and application of the family purpose doctrine, see 14 Mercer L. Rev. 297 (1962).

For comment on Porter v. Patterson, 107 Ga. App. 64 , 129 S.E.2d 70 (1962), see 26 Ga. B. J. 184 (1963).

For comment on Emory Univ. v. Porter, 103 Ga. App. 752 , 121 S.E.2d 668 (1961), as to hospital’s liability for the negligence of a physician, see 14 Mercer L. Rev. 467 (1963).

For article, “Motorboat Collisions and the Family Purpose Doctrine,” see 2 Ga. St. B.J. 473 (1966).

For note discussing the doctrine of respondeat superior, see 2 Ga. St. B. J. 478 (1966).

For note discussing the family purpose car doctrine as an extension of the principle of respondeat superior, see 3 Ga. St. B.J. 112 (1966).

For note discussing governmental immunity from tort liability in Georgia, see 5 Ga. St. B. J. 494 (1969).

For comment on Ellenberg v. Pinkerton’s, Inc., 125 Ga. App. 648 , 188 S.E.2d 911 (1972), holding employer defendant may not use independent contractor defense to invasion of privacy suit resulting from actions of investigator working in his behalf, see 9 Ga. St. B. J. 519 (1973).

For article analyzing the trend in this country toward no-fault liability, see 25 Emory L. J. 163 (1976).

For note, “Tort Liability in Georgia for the Criminal Acts of Another,” see 18 Ga. L. Rev. 361 (1984).

For article, “Sexual Harassment Claims Under Georgia Law,” see 6 Ga. St. B. J. 16 (2000).

For note, “Publicly Funded Private Security: A Critical Examination of Georgia Law Pertaining to the Private Employment of Off-Duty Police Officers,” see 51 Ga. L. Rev. 879 (2017).

For annual survey on labor and employment law, see 71 Mercer L. Rev. 137 (2019).