Tennessee § 37-10-103 - Circumstances under which parent or guardian liable.

§ 37-10-103. Circumstances under which parent or guardian liable.

A parent or guardian shall be liable for the tortious activities of a minor child that cause injuries to persons or property where the parent or guardian knows, or should know, of the child's tendency to commit wrongful acts that can be expected to cause injury to persons or property and where the parent or guardian has an opportunity to control the child but fails to exercise reasonable means to restrain the tortious conduct. A parent or guardian shall be presumed to know of a child's tendency to commit wrongful acts, if the child has previously been charged and found responsible for such actions. Acts 1957, ch. 76, § 3; 1981, ch. 161, § 3; T.C.A., § 37-1003; Acts 1985, ch. 439, § 2. Attorney General Opinions. Criminal liability of parents for acts of children, OAG 98-019 (1/15/98). There is no authority to hold a parent or guardian civilly liable for a minor child's conversion of the property of another unless such action is based on the willful or malicious destruction of such property and the parent knew or should have known of the child's tendency to commit wrongful acts and the parent had the opportunity to control the child but failed to exercise reasonable means to restrain the tortious conduct, OAG 01-010 (1/25/01).