Opinion ID: 2973615
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Wrongdoer by Ratification

Text: Appellees proffer “wrongdoer by ratification” as an alternate theory under which to hold SVMIC vicariously liable for Sigmon’s conduct. To this end, Appellees rely on the 1955 Tennessee Supreme Court case of Howard v. Haven, 281 S.W.2d 480 (Tenn. 1955), superceded in part by statute as recognized in Cole v. Arnold, 545 S.W.2d 95 (Tenn. 1977). A theory of wrongdoer by -7- Nos. 05-5219; 05-5220 Matthews, et al. v. Storgion, et al. ratification may remain viable in some contexts, but Givens expressly limited insurers’ vicarious liability for an attorney’s conduct to those situations in which the insurer exercises some form of actual control over the attorney’s actions. Givens, 75 S.W.3d at 396. Appellees maintain that the ratification theory presented in Howard must be applicable in the insurance context because Givens cited Howard. But Givens cited Howard only for the proposition that, after Givens, an attorney remains subject to “direct liability for his or her own conduct.” Id. at 398 n.8.