Parents in Saxony: Liability for breach of supervision remains!

Parents in Saxony: Liability for breach of supervision remains!

A fire in the controversial state operetta in Radebeul has re -lived in the discussion about the duty of supervision of parents and the associated liability issues. On June 12, 2025, the city administration reported that violations of the duty of supervision usually lead to the parents' liability for civil law, but do not result in any criminal consequences. The incident also focused on the topic of the failures in the security check of municipal buildings.

The head of the office for building construction and real estate management, Katrin Tauber, rejected allegations that the city had not made enough for the safety of the building. The entrances are properly closed, windows and doors are secured with wooden panels, says Tauber. Nevertheless, many citizens wondered: inside whether the city would have been a duty to ensure better security.

supervision and liability

The duty of supervision is an important topic in connection with the liability of parents and legal guardians. A legal framework regulates that persons subject to supervisory people must pay for damage if they are illegally caused by persons in need of supervision, such as minors. However, there is no obligation to pay compensation if the duty of supervision has been met or the damage would also have occurred if the observation is properly observed. In fact, many legal aspects arise from the BGB

A typical example of a violation of the duty of supervision is the unattended playing of a child in dangerous environments. The responsibility to eliminate potential dangers lies with the parents, teachers and caregivers. This runs through different areas of life, be it educational institutions or leisure activities.

common responsibility and prevention

In order for the supervision to be implemented successfully, appropriate measures for danger defense are necessary. This includes clear guidelines and training courses for supervisors. Well -structured risk management can help recognize potential dangers at an early stage and implement suitable security measures. These preventive approaches are of central importance to avoid future incidents and to guarantee the safety of the supervisors.

The legal view of an incident like the fire in the state operetta always has to take into account the individual context. Whether there is a violation of the duty of supervision depends on the specific circumstances of each individual case. Courts often have the not always easy job to decide whether the duty of supervision was actually violated, as the Dresden city administration explained in its last report.