Final answer:
The key factor in determining Buy-Mart's liability is determined by whether or not Watts committed the tort while performing her job duties at Buy-Mart.
Step-by-step explanation:
The key factor in determining whether Buy-Mart is liable under the relevant legal doctrine is c. Whether or not Watts committed the tort in the course and scope of her employment. Employers can be held vicariously liable for the actions of their employees if those actions occur within the scope of their employment. This principle is grounded in the doctrine of respondeat superior, which holds that an employer can be responsible for the wrongs committed by an employee if those wrongs were committed in the context of the work the employee was hired to do. Whether the customer provoked Watts or not, and Watt's performance record, while potentially relevant to other issues, are generally less directly relevant to the question of Buy-Mart's vicarious liability under this doctrine.