Opinion ID: 1593590
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Dr. Ware's Status as a Primary Shareholder in a Professional Corporation

Text: Dr. Ware described himself as a partner in Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine of Montgomery, P.C. Timmons argues that Dr. Ware's status as a shareholder in a professional corporation subjects him to vicarious liability for Nurse Hayes's conduct. However, § 10-4-390(b), Ala.Code 1975, states: The personal liability of a shareholder, employee, director or officer of a domestic professional corporation . . . shall be no greater in any respect than that of a shareholder, employee, director or officer of a corporation organized under the Alabama Business Corporation Act. This Court recognizes that the common-law doctrine of respondeat superior governs the vicarious liability of corporations organized under the Alabama Business Corporation Act. See National States Ins. Co. v. Jones, 393 So.2d 1361, 1367 (Ala.1980) (`The liability of a corporation for the torts of its employees, whether agent or servant, is grounded upon the principle of respondeat superior. . . .' (quoting Old Southern Life Ins. Co. v. McConnell, 52 Ala.App. 589, 594, 269 So.2d 183, 186 (1974))). Thus, § 10-4-390(b) does not impose vicarious liability where the doctrine of respondeat superior would not do so. Accordingly, Dr. Ware's testimony regarding his status as a shareholder of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine of Montgomery, P.C., does not permit the conclusion that he is vicariously liable for Nurse Hayes's acts and omissions. The jury instruction therefore cannot be held to be proper on this basis.