Final answer:
When one person is held liable for the torts of another person, it is known as vicarious liability. It applies to situations where a party is held responsible for the actions of another, typically in an employer-employee relationship, and it is a civil law concept.
Step-by-step explanation:
When one person is held responsible for the torts committed by him, it is known as vicarious liability. This is a principle of law where a party is held responsible not for their own actions but for the actions of another person. For example, employers can be held vicariously liable for the actions of their employees if such actions are performed in the course of employment. Vicarious liability is distinguished from personal liability, in which an individual is held responsible for their own actions.
Crimes are violations of public law that are prosecuted by the state and may result in penalties such as imprisonment or fines, whereas torts are civil wrongs, like negligence or defamation, that result in private suits and typically lead to damages or injunctions. Therefore, vicarious liability is strictly a civil law concept and does not apply to criminal law.
A voidable contract refers to an agreement that is valid and enforceable but can be invalidated at the option of one of the parties, such as in cases of fraud or duress. This is a separate legal concept from vicarious liability and does not relate to the responsibility for torts.