Agency Principles (Principal-Agent Law)

Definition

Legal rules governing the relationship between a principal (the party giving directions) and an agent (the party carrying them out). Under these principles, when an agent acts within authority validly delegated by the principal, the principal — not the agent — bears responsibility. The government argues Yearsley is simply an application of these ordinary principles.

Examples

• •Respondents cited Larson for the principle that when a government officer acts within valid statutory authority, those actions are attributed to the government — but the officer remains personally liable under general tort law.

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