Final answer:
The true statement about vicarious liability is that a defendant can be vicariously liable and directly liable in the same action. Respondeat superior is a type of vicarious liability referring to an employer-employee relationship, but it is not absolute and does not apply to independent contractors unless the employer was negligent in their selection.
It is option a).
Step-by-step explanation:
Regarding vicarious liability, the statement that is true is: 'A defendant may be both vicariously liable and directly liable in the same action.' This concept is linked closely to the doctrine of respondeat superior, where an employer is held responsible for the acts of its employees, provided those acts occur within the scope of their employment. However, an employer is not always liable for an employee's torts; there must be a connection to the employee's duties and the act must not deviate significantly from employment.
An employer is not vicariously liable for the torts of an independent contractor unless there was negligence in selecting the contractor. Vicarious liability can arise in various relationships, including employer-employee, but it generally does not apply when an independent contractor's actions are at issue unless the task was inherently dangerous or the employer had control over the manner in which the work was performed.
Respondeat superior is indeed a type of vicarious liability that applies within the context of an employer-employee relationship. Employers can be held liable under this principle for the negligent acts of their employees committed in the course of employment.