Originally Posted by vagabond

The concept that a bartender can be held responsible further down the chain of events comes from tort law. A victim filed suit against the drunk driver and in civil procedure, law students learn "to sue everybody." A lot has to do with the legal concept of "proximate cause."

The PIC's job is the control and safety of the aircraft. Is it also his job to draw the line as to which activity or behavior is illegal and which is immoral? The legal one is easier to analyze, but whose morals are we talking about? This issue becomes increasingly murky if the PIC flies the private jet of the Big Wig who is in the back fooling around with his mistress. Is it his job to get out of his seat and investigate who the boss is rolling around with back there? Does he send the other pilot? Ring up the stewardess and ask her to check? What if he finds out that BW is doing both illegal and immoral acts? What if the act is neither illegal or immoral, but the PIC finds it personally offensive?