Starla was killed when her car struck one of a group of horses that were roaming on the highway. The Sea Horse Ranch owned the horses, which were property of the corporation that owned the ranch. The horses frequently escaped through poorly maintained fences surrounding the ranch. Shipley, the ranch's owner and president of the corporation, had been cited by the police and the humane society for allowing his horses to run free on the highway. The state sought to prosecute both the Sea Horse Ranch and Shipley for involuntary manslaughter. Can the Sea Horse Ranch corporation be held liable for the crime?

Answer: Yes, because a corporation can be held liable for the crimes of its employees.

Explanation:

Corporate Criminal Liability refers to the legal consequences a corporation may have because of its officers' criminal actions or activities. In order for the corporation to be held liable for the crime, it must be demonstrated that the employee has some type of authority or power within the company, and that it is directly responsible for the crime he or she is accused of. Shipley, the ranch's owner is directly responsible for the horses' care and he must not allow them to run free on the highway because they might cause an accident. For that reason, both Sea Horse Ranch and Shipley are responsible of Starla's death.