Roy Watson bought vacuum cleaners from T & F Distributing Co. and then resold them door-todoor.

He was an independent contractor. Before hiring Watson, the president of T & F checked with two former employers but could not remember if he called Watson’s two references.

Watson had an extensive criminal record, primarily under the alias Leroy Turner, but he was listed in FBI records under both Leroy Turner and Roy Watson. T & F granted Watson sales territory that included Neptune City, New Jersey. This city required that all “peddlers”

such as Watson be licensed. Applicants for this license were routinely fingerprinted. T & F never insisted that Watson apply for such a license. Watson attacked Miriam Bennett after selling a vacuum cleaner to her at her home in Neptune City. Is T & F liable to Bennett?