Apparent Authority

Also known as ostensible authority, apparent authority is a type of authority in agency law that refers to the authority that a principal appears to have given to an agent to act on their behalf. This authority is created when the principal, by words or conduct, leads a third party to believe that the agent has the authority to act on their behalf, even if the agent does not actually have that authority.

Apparent authority can arise in a number of different ways. For example, if a principal allows an agent to use their business card, or if the agent is introduced to a third party as a representative of the principal, the third party may reasonably believe that the agent has the authority to act on the principal's behalf. Similarly, if a principal allows an agent to make decisions and take actions that are typically within the scope of the principal's authority, the agent may be deemed to have apparent authority to act on the principal's behalf.

It is important to note that apparent authority is not actual authority, and it does not require the principal to have actually given the agent the authority to act on their behalf. Instead, it is based on the principle of estoppel, which prevents the principal from denying that the agent had the authority to act on their behalf, if the principal led the third party to reasonably believe that the agent had such authority.

If a third party relies on the apparent authority of an agent and suffers harm as a result of the agent's actions, the principal may be held liable for that harm. However, for the doctrine of apparent authority to apply, the following three elements must be present:

1. The principal must have made representations to the third party that led the third party to believe that the agent had the authority to act on the principal's behalf;
2. The third party must have reasonably relied on those representations in dealing with the agent; and
3. The agent must have taken actions that were within the scope of the apparent authority created by the principal's representations.

Apparent authority is an important concept in agency law, as it allows third parties to rely on the representations of the principal in dealing with the agent. By providing a way for third parties to hold principals accountable for the actions of their agents, the doctrine of apparent authority helps to ensure that businesses and other organisations act responsibly in their dealings with the public.