Definition of "Dual capacity doctrine"

Rule of law under which a defendant who has two or more relationships with a plaintiff may be liable under any of these relationships. For example, an employer may be liable in two ways to an employee who incurs bodily injury on the job as the result of using a product or service produced by that employer: first, as the employer of the injured employee, and second, as the producer of the product or service that caused injury to the employee. The injured employee may then either collect benefits for job-related injuries under workers compensation or sue the employer as the producer of the defective product or service. For example, if an employee injures an arm at work while operating a machine with a defective blade that the employer manufactures, the employee can receive benefits under workers compensation or sue the employer as the manufacturer of the defective blade.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Insurance Terms

(stop loss) amount over which a health insurance plan pays 100% of the costs in a percentage participation plan. Here, an insured shares costs with the insurer according to some ...

Coverage in which an insurer is not bound to cede and a reinsurer is not bound to accept a risk. A separate reinsurance contract covers each cession. The contract is automatically renewed ...

Agent who is licensed and who markets and services insurance policies in a state in which he or she is not domiciled. ...

Measure of policyholder interest in a variable annuity policy prior to the annuity date. This measure is similar to a unit in a mutual fund. ...

State operated insurance company used in workers compensation insurance in some states where the risks are so great that the commercial insurance companies cannot operate at affordable ...

Modification of the major medical insurance policy that provides coverage for the terminating employee who otherwise would not be covered by a health insurance policy. Usually, this ...

In life and health insurance, person whose physical condition is less than standard or who has a hazardous occupation or hobby. For example, an applicant with a history of strokes is ...

Provision in an insurance policy that indicates what is denied coverage. For example, common exclusions are: hazards deemed so catastrophic in nature that they are uninsurable, such as war; ...

Organization of trial attorneys who specialize in the representation of defendants who become subject to tort actions. Generally, these tort actions involve bodily injury or personal injury ...

Popular Insurance Questions