Q: My sister is being investigated for elder abuse on my mother and I am wondering if her employer is liable for her actions? So my sister was able to get a healthcare position with a local healthcare firm in which she is able to be my mom’s personal healthcare attendant. Now over the last month it has come to the forefront my sister has been stealing personal checks from my mother which caused a huge financial strain on my mom. The company is still allowing my sister to go to my mom’s home which has my mom terrified that she is going to steal again. Is her employer liable for her stealing since my sister is their employee and they haven’t removed her from my mom’s case?

A: An employer is generally liable for the actions of an employee, but not always. If the employer is aware of the wrongdoing of the employee and allows her to continue to be employed, liability against them is even better. However, your case is complicated by the familial relationship and can be further complicated if mother has competency issues. If mom is telling you that your sister is stealing from her but denying it to the employer, the situation gets more complicated and their liability decreases. If you really believe this is happening, you should put it in writing to the employer, or file a claim with them or whatever complaint procedure they have in place.