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Injuries Inflicted by Minors: Navigating Parental Liability and Insurance Coverage When Children Cause Harm

A live 90-minute CLE video webinar with interactive Q&A

This program is included with the Strafford CLE Pass. Click for more information.
This program is included with the Strafford All-Access Pass. Click for more information.

Thursday, April 24, 2025 (in 3 days)

1:00pm-2:30pm EDT, 10:00am-11:30am PDT

or call 1-800-926-7926

This CLE will address when parents or legal guardians can be held civilly or criminally liable for the actions of minors. The panel will discuss those situations in which liability can arise, including acts involving computers, the relevance of the child's culpability, insurance coverage issues, subrogation, theories of liability, defenses, and damages. The panel will also review special issues related to discovery and trial when minors may key witnesses.

Description

Parental liability is a growing and complex area of law that has taken on increased importance in the aftermath of crimes, car accidents, and reckless conduct committed by unemancipated minors. Computer crimes and crimes committed using computers, phones, or social media, including copyright violations, should not be overlooked.

Liability is imposed based on theories of negligence, statutory liability, and the common law. When claims are asserted, thorny insurance coverage issues may arise over defense or payment of any claims. Even if no suit is filed, increasingly, parents may find themselves the targets of subrogation efforts. Only recently have insurers offered policies designed for foster parents.

When evaluating claims against parents, the age and capacity of the child may play an important role. Minors engaged in adult activities such as flying an airplane or driving a motor vehicle (or boat) are held to the standards of an adult engaged in such activities. The judicial system is increasingly willing to charge parents when their children commit crimes.

Listen as this expert panel discusses when parents or legal guardians can be held civilly or criminally liable for the actions of minors.

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Outline

  1. Civil liability for a minor:
    1. Tender years doctrine
    2. Adult-like activities
    3. Pleadings & procedure
  2. Civil liability for parents
    1. By statute: parental responsibility act
    2. By common law:
      1. Failure to supervise
      2. Negligent entrustment
  3. Insurance coverage issues
  4. Dealing with children in litigation

Benefits

The panel will review applicable law and discuss its application through individual cases: car accidents, bicycles, inherently dangerous activities such the use of a firearm, social host liability and impaired minors, sexual battery, and intentional/willful acts.

Faculty

Kroll, Jeffrey
Jeffrey J. Kroll

Attorney
Kaveny+Kroll

Mr. Kroll is an award-winning attorney who has represented injured victims of negligence throughout the country...  |  Read More

Malm, John
John J. Malm

Founder and Principal
John J. Malm & Associates Personal Injury Lawyers

Mr. Malm has more than 30 years of experience in personal injury litigation. He is the founder and principal of John J....  |  Read More

Attend on April 24

Cannot Attend April 24?

You may pre-order a recording to listen at your convenience. Recordings are available 48 hours after the webinar. Strafford will process CLE credit for one person on each recording. All formats include course handouts.

To find out which recorded format will provide the best CLE option, select your state:

CLE On-Demand Video