The owner of a limo company had his limos serviced by a national chain of auto service centers. One of his limos went through a stop sign when its brakes failed without warning. The ensuing collision seriously injured the limo occupants. An investigation revealed that brake repairs had been made on the limo a week before, but the service center's mechanic had used the wrong parts and had made numerous errors in reassembling the brakes.

If the occupants sue the limo company owner for their injuries:

Select one:

a.The occupants should prevail, unless the jury determines that the owner exercised a high degree of care in selecting the service center for maintenance of his limos.

b.The owner should prevail, because he is not vicariously liable for the negligence of an independent contractor.

c.The occupants should prevail, because the owner breached his duty to them to provide a safe vehicle in which to ride.

d.The owner should prevail, because he had no reason to know that the service center's mechanic would be negligent.