Final answer:
The distinguishing characteristic in a case where an employee seeks damages for harm caused by a manager's carelessness is that the employer can be held liable under vicarious liability without proof of employer fault.
Step-by-step explanation:
A judge is hearing a matter involving a claim for damages by an employee, who alleges harm caused by a manager's careless actions. The distinguishing characteristic of this type of action is b) proof of an employer fault isn't required for vicarious liability for employees. This concept means that an employer can be held responsible for the negligent actions of their employees even if the employer itself wasn't at fault. This is under the legal doctrine of vicarious liability, which applies in many legal systems and is a significant aspect of employment law issues related to negligent hiring and employee misconduct.