S.C. Supreme Court issues respondeat superior opinion

In Armstrong v. Food Lion, Inc., three employees of Food Lion attacked Armstrong in the store and cut him with sharp objects. Armstrong sued Food Lion for torts of its employees. The trial court granted a directed verdict in favor of Food Lion and the Supreme Court affirmed. The Court held that the trial court appropriately granted a directed verdict because Armstrong failed to produce any evidence that the Food Lion employees were acting within the scope of their employment or in furtherance of Food Lion's business when they attacked Armstrong. They were acting to effect an independent purpose of their own.