Case 8: Synergies3 Tec Services, LLC v. Corvo Lisa Corvo and Thomas Bonds were engaged to be married. They had gotten engaged in Paris without an engagement ring. When they returned to the United States, they purchased a specially made ring in the shape of the Eiffel Tower with a diamond mounted on it. The diamond cost $40,000. Sometime thereafter Corvo contacted DIRECTV to initiate satellite television services in her house. On February 20, 2013, Corvo and Bonds were working from home when Raymond Castro and Daniel McLaughlin arrived to perform the installation. Bonds let both men inside the house, advised them where to install the equipment, and then resumed working. At one point, while Castro and McLaughlin were still working on the installation, Corvo and Bonds experienced an interruption in their Internet access, and, as a result, Bonds went to check with Castro and McLaughlin. Corvo noticed that the door to the master bedroom was almost closed, which she thought was strange. Thus, she opened it, which startled McLaughlin, who was standing behind the door. When the installation was complete, Castro provided Corvo and Bonds with a lengthy overview of the services. Corvo and Bonds finished paperwork associated with the installation, and Castro left. After Castro left, Corvo went to the master bedroom to retrieve her handbag, jewelry, and shoes, and she noticed that the three-carat diamond was missing from the center of her engagement ring. The prongs on the ring were sticking out and were bent. Corvo and Bonds sued McLaughlin, Castro, DIRECTV, and Synergies3 Tec Services (Synergies3)which was the company contracted by DIRECTV to install services and which employed McLaughlin and Castro)asserting claims of conversion and theft. A jury awarded Corvo and Bonds $365,160 in damages, including mental anguish and punitive damages. DIRECTV and Synergies3 appealed the verdict on a number of grounds, including that the jury erroneously applied the doctrine of respondeat superior to hold them vicariously liable for the actions of McLaughlin and Castro. 1. Castro and McLaughlin are best classified as agents of Synergies3 and DIRECTV. Neither Castro nor McLaughlin is an employee of Synergies3 and DIRECTV. 2. McLaughlins theft of the diamond occurred within the scope of his employment (installing satellite television services), and DIRECTTV is vicariously liable for McLaughlins criminal conduct. 3. If Synergies3 had trained Castro and McLaughlin how to distract the customer in her home while the other installer located and stole valuable personal property of the customer, Synergies 3 would have direct criminal liability. 4. If Castro and McLaughlin improperly installed the satellite television services, and Corvo was injured as a result of the careless installation, Synergies3 can be held liable for her injuries. 5. If Synergies3 had trained Castro and McLaughlin how to distract the customer in her home while the other installer located and stole valuab.

1. Case 8: Synergies3 Tec Services, LLC v. Corvo
Lisa Corvo and Thomas Bonds were engaged to be married. They had gotten engaged in Paris
without an engagement ring. When they returned to the United States, they purchased a specially
made ring in the shape of the Eiffel Tower with a diamond mounted on it. The diamond cost
$40,000.
Sometime thereafter Corvo contacted DIRECTV to initiate satellite television services in her
house. On February 20, 2013, Corvo and Bonds were working from home when Raymond Castro
and Daniel McLaughlin arrived to perform the installation. Bonds let both men inside the house,
advised them where to install the equipment, and then resumed working. At one point, while
Castro and McLaughlin were still working on the installation, Corvo and Bonds experienced an
interruption in their Internet access, and, as a result, Bonds went to check with Castro and
McLaughlin. Corvo noticed that the door to the master bedroom was almost closed, which she
thought was strange. Thus, she opened it, which startled McLaughlin, who was standing behind
the door.
When the installation was complete, Castro provided Corvo and Bonds with a lengthy overview of
the services. Corvo and Bonds finished paperwork associated with the installation, and Castro left.
After Castro left, Corvo went to the master bedroom to retrieve her handbag, jewelry, and shoes,
and she noticed that the three-carat diamond was missing from the center of her engagement ring.
The prongs on the ring were sticking out and were bent.
Corvo and Bonds sued McLaughlin, Castro, DIRECTV, and Synergies3 Tec Services
(Synergies3)which was the company contracted by DIRECTV to install services and which
employed McLaughlin and Castro)asserting claims of conversion and theft.
A jury awarded Corvo and Bonds $365,160 in damages, including mental anguish and punitive
damages. DIRECTV and Synergies3 appealed the verdict on a number of grounds, including that
the jury erroneously applied the doctrine of respondeat superior to hold them vicariously liable for
the actions of McLaughlin and Castro.
1. Castro and McLaughlin are best classified as agents of Synergies3 and DIRECTV. Neither
Castro nor McLaughlin is an employee of Synergies3 and DIRECTV.
2. McLaughlins theft of the diamond occurred within the scope of his employment (installing
satellite television services), and DIRECTTV is vicariously liable for McLaughlins criminal conduct.
3. If Synergies3 had trained Castro and McLaughlin how to distract the customer in her home
while the other installer located and stole valuable personal property of the customer, Synergies 3
would have direct criminal liability.
4. If Castro and McLaughlin improperly installed the satellite television services, and Corvo was
injured as a result of the careless installation, Synergies3 can be held liable for her injuries.
5. If Synergies3 had trained Castro and McLaughlin how to distract the customer in her home
while the other installer located and stole valuable personal property of the customer, Synergies3,
Castro, and McLaughlin would be jointly and severally but not severally liable.
1. Castro and McLaughlin are best classified as
agents of Synergies3 and DIRECTV. Neither
Castro nor McLaughlin is an employee of
Synergies3 and DIRECTV.

2. 2. McLaughlins theft of the diamond occurred
within the scope of his employment (installing
satellite television services), and DIRECTTV is
vicariously liable for McLaughlins criminal
conduct.
3. If Synergies3 had trained Castro and
McLaughlin how to distract the customer in her
home while the other installer located and stole
valuable personal property of the customer,
Synergies 3 would have direct criminal liability.
4. If Castro and McLaughlin improperly installed
the satellite television services, and Corvo was
injured as a result of the careless installation,
Synergies3 can be held liable for her injuries.
5. If Synergies3 had trained Castro and
McLaughlin how to distract the customer in her
home while the other installer located and stole
valuable personal property of the customer,
Synergies3, Castro, and McLaughlin would be
jointly and severally but not severally liable.