Publication Type
Journal Article
Version
publishedVersion
Publication Date
12-2015
Abstract
Unlike the position in criminal law, there does not currently exist a general doctrine of accessory liability in civil law. Thus, a person may be liable as an accessory in equity for dishonestly assisting with a breach of trust, but there is no tort for dishonest assistance. Rather, one who participates in another's tort will only be liable if he is a joint tortfeasor acting pursuant to a common design with the primary tortfeasor. This article examines the reasons for this divergence and evaluates the case for their assimilation. It observes that, contrary to common perception, the scope of participatory liability in both sphers does not materially differ. It also concludes that the case for assimilation is not made out if the overarching principle for civil accessory liability is defined principally be reference to criminal concepts of complicity. Such an approach overlooks the fundamental distinctions between civil and criminal processes and threatens to extend civil liability beyond acceptable bounds.
Keywords
Accessory liability, joint tortfeasance, dishonest assistance, torts, Singapore
Discipline
Asian Studies | Torts
Publication
Singapore Academy of Law Journal
Volume
27
First Page
851
Last Page
879
ISSN
0218-2009
Publisher
Singapore Academy of Law
Embargo Period
4-21-2016
Citation
LEE, Pey Woan.
Accessory Liability in Tort and Equity. (2015). Singapore Academy of Law Journal. 27, 851-879.
Available at: https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/sol_research/1597
Copyright Owner and License
Authors and SAL
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Additional URL
http://www.sal.org.sg/digitallibrary/Lists/SAL%20Journal/DispForm.aspx?ID=747