Good news for employers – the UK Supreme Court hands down judgment in WM Morrison Supermarkets plc (Appellant) v Various Claimants (Respondents)

The appeal was primarily concerned with the circumstances in which an employer is vicariously liable for the conduct of its employees, and provided the court with an opportunity to address the misunderstandings which have arisen since its decision in the case of Mohamud v WM Morrison Supermarkets plc [2016] UKSC 11; [2016] AC 677. It also raised an important question about the Data Protection Act 1998 (“the DPA”). The circumstances in which a disgruntled employee committed wrongs against the claimants was not such as to result in the imposition of vicarious liability upon his employer. Morrisons cannot therefore be held liable for the employee’s conduct. It follows that the appeal must be allowed.

https://www.supremecourt.uk/cases/docs/uksc-2018-0213-judgment.pdf