Question

In a situation like the one in the video in which an independent contractor's work is not performed according to the agent's duty of performance, is the principal responsible to compensate the independent contractor?

a. yes, however, the agent is liable to the principal for damages if it does not perform his or her express duties or fails to meet the standards of reasonable care, skill and diligence

b. yes, because the agent did perform work for the principal

c. no, since the agent did not meet the standards of reasonable care, skill and diligence implicit in all contracts

d. yes, because the principal is liable for the results of the work

e. no, since the agent did not perform the lawful duties expressed in the contract

Answer 1

If an independent contractor does not fulfill their duties, the principal must still compensate them; however, the agent might owe damages to the principal if their performance lacks reasonable care, skill, and diligence.

Step-by-step explanation:

When an independent contractor's work does not meet the agent's duty of performance, the principal is still generally required to compensate the independent contractor. The correct answer to your question is: a. Yes, however, the agent is liable to the principal for damages if it does not perform his or her express duties or fails to meet the standards of reasonable care, skill, and diligence. This means that while the principal must uphold their end of the contractual agreement by providing compensation for the work done, they may also seek damages from the agent if the work was not performed satisfactorily.

Of course, this is predicated on the specifics of the contractual agreement. If the agent, in this case, the independent contractor, utterly fails to provide the service or work as per the contract, then the answer could be different, and the principal might not be obligated to pay, but could still require the agent to indemnify them for any losses incurred. This seems to align with expectations in contract law that both parties honor their respective duties.