Mini Case

Catori has worked for lawyer Larry for the last five years in his home office. Since the economic downturn, some of Larry's clients have gone out of business and Larry's law practice has also suffered. Larry has told Catori that if business does not pick up, he would have to reduce her work hours. Catori had taken some online courses in accounting and in her spare time she has been studying the books to see how she can make the numbers look better. She inflated some billings and expensed some of Larry's personal bills through the firm accounts.

Larry and Catori began attending more functions to meet new potential clients. Catori finds herself drinking and hobnobbing harder than ever before, sometimes staying on at the events even after Larry has left. One raw rainy evening just before Christmas, after several drinks, Catori found herself one of the last to leave a party at the golf club. As she was getting her coat, she found herself in the empty cloak room where Chirag, one of the potential clients she was talking to during the evening, told her that she looked ravishing and offered to help her with her coat. What transpired afterwards would be described as inappropriate touching and some kissing. Catori broke loose and ran to her car. Fumbling for her keys, she did not realize that she had dropped her smartphone in the parking lot. Understandably upset, she drove away hastily and, coming around a turn too fast down the dark country road, crashed into a guardrail and passed out. A few minutes later, Meaghan and her one-year old son, Sam, were driving to pick up her husband (yes, that same two-timing Chirag) from the Christmas party. Coming around the same turn, Meaghan did not see Catori's stalled car and slammed into it. Sam was not properly secured to his car seat and was seriously injured. In all the turmoil over the past few weeks, Catori had forgotten to renew her car insurance.

Meanwhile, Catori's smartphone was picked up by Chirag. Feeling rebuffed by Catori, he posted some personal, confidential, and proprietary information of Larry's clients from the smartphone on his website.

Who might be liable for what, and why?