---
title: O.C.G.A. § 51-2-4. Liability for torts of independent employee.
collection: code
id: 51-2-4
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 51-2-4 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-2-4
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-2-4.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-2-4/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t51-(v39)-2017-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=6b891965_0#page=287
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/51-2.md
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version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: TORTS / IMPUTABLE NEGLIGENCE
---

# O.C.G.A. § 51-2-4. Liability for torts of independent employee.

An employer generally is not responsible for torts committed by his employee when the employee exercises an independent business and in it is not subject to the immediate direction and control of the employer.

## History

Orig. Code 1863, § 2905; Code 1868, § 2911; Code 1873, § 2962; Code 1882, § 2962; Civil Code 1895, § 3818; Civil Code 1910, § 4414; Code 1933, § 105-501.

## Cross References

Liability of employers for injuries to employees generally, § 34-7-20 et seq.

## Law Reviews

For article surveying torts law, see 34 Mercer L. Rev. 271 (1982).

For note discussing the doctrine of respondeat superior, see 2 Ga. St. B. J. 478 (1966).

For comment on Nichols v. G.L. High Motor Co., 65 Ga. App. 397, 15 S.E.2d 805 (1941), and Andrews v. Norvell, 65 Ga. App. 241, 15 S.E.2d 808 (1941), see 4 Ga. B. J. 46 (1941). For comment on Ellenberg v. Pinkerton’s, Inc., 125 Ga. App. 648, 188 S.E.2d 911 (1972), holding employer defendant may not use independent contractor defense to invasion of privacy suit resulting from actions of investigator working in his behalf, see 9 Ga. St. B. J. 519 (1973).