Also known as: responsibilities · responsible
Written by attorneys · grounded in primary & secondary sources — see below
The condition of being accountable for conduct or having a duty with respect to a matter or person. Accountability arises when a court or rule imposes sanctions, duties, or liability on an actor for its own acts or those of another within the scope of a relationship.
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Associate Rivera filed a pleading containing denials of factual contentions that lacked evidentiary support. After notice, the court found a Rule 11 violation. The court imposed sanctions on Rivera and held the firm jointly responsible because the associate was acting within the firm's employment.
Lawyer Ramos referred a personal-injury matter to Lawyer Rao in another firm. Rao performed most of the work but Ramos agreed to assume joint responsibility for the representation. The client consented in writing and the total fee remained reasonable, so the lawyers divided the fee in proportion to services performed.
Patient Rahman suffered injury during surgery at Riverside Healthcare. Expert testimony eliminated other responsible causes such as the patient's own conduct or third-party actions. The court permitted the jury to infer that the hospital's negligence caused the harm because the event ordinarily does not occur without negligence.
Biological father Reyes never lived with his newborn child, never visited, never paid support, and never admitted paternity. When the mother consented to adoption, the court held that Reyes lacked the manifestations of parental responsibility required to veto the adoption.
Agent Ramirez appointed subagent Redline Automotive to perform functions for principal Royal Crest Hotels. Ramirez agreed with the principal to be primarily responsible for the subagent's conduct, so Ramirez remained accountable even though Redline performed the day-to-day tasks.
Senior and junior mortgagees of Rhapsody Entertainment property jointly sought appointment of a single receiver. They agreed on disposition of rental income and the receiver's rights and responsibilities. The court enforced that agreement as controlling the receiver's authority.
A law firm is jointly responsible absent exceptional circumstances when the violation is committed by its partner, associate, or employee. The court must first give notice and an opportunity to respond before imposing sanctions on the firm or the individual.
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Each lawyer must either perform services in proportion to the division or assume joint responsibility for the representation. The client must agree in writing to the arrangement and the total fee must remain reasonable.
…should assign. Respecting the powers given and duties imposed by this act, no mandamus will lie because the Secretary is responsible only to the President. The second act at the same session, 15 September 1789, changed the name to Department of State and assigned duties in the performance of which the Secretary cannot…
…Up to those points, the abortion decision in all its aspects is inherently, and primarily, a medical decision, and basic responsibility for it must rest with the physician. If an individual practitioner abuses the privilege of exercising proper medical judgment, the usual remedies, judicial and intra-professional, are…
…far from seeking to devalue marriage, seek it for themselves because of their respect—and need—for its privileges and responsibilities, as illustrated by the petitioners’ own experiences. Pp. 3–6. (2) The history of marriage is one of both continuity and change. Changes, such as the decline of arranged marriages and the…
…recognition of the importance of education to our democratic society. It is required in the performance of our most basic public responsibilities
…a local statute, to exercise their independent judgment as to what the law is; and it is well settled that the question of the responsibility of a railroad for injuries caused by its servants is one of general law. . . . Where the public has made open and notorious use of a railroad right of way for a long period of time and…
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The plaintiff must present evidence showing that the conduct of the plaintiff and third persons did not cause the harm. Once other causes are sufficiently eliminated, the jury may infer that the defendant's negligence caused the injury.
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The father must show actual manifestations such as living with and caring for the child, visiting regularly, admitting paternity, paying support, and demonstrating willingness to assume custody rather than merely blocking adoption.
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The agent who appointed the subagent remains primarily responsible to the principal for the subagent's conduct even though the subagent performs functions for the principal.
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When multiple mortgagees jointly seek a single receivership and agree on matters such as disposition of rental income and the receiver's rights and responsibilities, that agreement controls the receiver's authority.
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