Monthly Archives: July 2011

“He primarily used the boat and most of his free time for (hospital) business and other charitable causes.” “At sentencing we intend to bring out the other side of Roosevelt Hairston — and that is the person who devoted his time and energy to serving the community and charitable interests.” “He is not a greedy man.”

Posted on July 30, 2011 by mmjdiary

Howard B. Klein, lawyer for Roosevelt Hairston, Jr., former general counsel for Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, who entered a guilty plea of embezzling $1.7 million from the hospital between 1999 and 2011. Mr. Hairston submitted 93 invoices for fake vendors … Continue reading →

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“Less pressure has visibly led to higher moral standards in German companies.”

Posted on July 27, 2011 by mmjdiary

Stefan Heissner, the head of Fraud Investigations & Dispute Services at Ernst & Young. E&Y just released a survey of employees’ attitudes about corruption and ethical behavior in business in Germany. The probability of an ethical outcome is a direct … Continue reading →

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New Category Added

Posted on July 23, 2011 by mmjdiary

The Barometer has added a new category for your reading pleasure — the “Under the Bus” news highlights. This category brings us those warm and fuzzy moments when friends, family, and co-workers save their own skins by finger-pointing others who … Continue reading →

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Danielle Chiesi Gets Longer Sentence Than Her Longtime Lover Who Threw Her Under the Bus

Posted on July 23, 2011 by mmjdiary

There have been 49 folks (hedge-fund managers and others from expert networks) charged with insider trading over the past 18 months. Of the 49, forty-six have been convicted or entered guilty pleas. Outside of the Beltway, few have witnessed such … Continue reading →

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The “Whys” Behind Rules: The Photo-Op Tragedies in Yosemite and Guatemalan Zoo

Posted on July 23, 2011 by mmjdiary

In the news this past week were two events that could be used to drive home to employees those seemingly bureaucratic and overly cautious rules do have important purposes. The first was the tragic loss of three lives in Yosemite … Continue reading →

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So Not Worth It, Or Is it? Clemens, Armstrong, & Anthony

Posted on July 21, 2011 by mmjdiary

Jonathan Mahler, he of the New York Times, and a host of others who crowd the web and bend the Barometer’s ear, wonder why the federal government pursues cases such as those against Roger Clemens, Barry Bonds, and, now, Lance … Continue reading →

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“Stealing is stealing whether you use a computer command or a crowbar, and whether you take documents, data or dollars. It is equally harmful to the victim whether you sell what you have stolen or give it away.”

Posted on July 20, 2011 by mmjdiary

United States Attorney Carmen M. Ortiz in announcing the indictment of formal Harvard ethics fellow Aaron Swartz for allegedly hacking into MIT’s massive journal and article data base and then turning the articles and journal over for free downloading. Mr. … Continue reading →

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“Reliable operations come first, whatever the cost.”

Posted on July 18, 2011 by mmjdiary

Former BP CEO, Tony Hayward, in a deposition taken as part of the civil suits BP faces for the explosion at the Deepwater Horizon oil rig

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Playing Online While At Work

Posted on July 18, 2011 by mmjdiary

A GSN Digital survey finds that 35% of us play games online while at work. However, 53% of those who play do so only during their lunch hours. And 47% say they play throughout the work day. The Barometer wonders … Continue reading →

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“Wrongdoers turned a good newsroom bad and this was not fully understood or adequately pursued.”

Posted on July 11, 2011 by mmjdiary

James Murdoch, son of Rupert Murdoch, owner of News of the World, a British tabloid that has ceased publication because of a phone-hacking scandal undertaken by the paper in order to follow the rich, famous, and infamous. At the heart … Continue reading →

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The Move to Principles-Based Accounting

Posted on July 11, 2011 by mmjdiary

Companies that do business internationally are moving to switch their GAAP-based accounting to IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) accounting. The Wall Street Journal notes that under “principles-based accounting, companies use judgment in applying a set of guidelines.” The Barometer is … Continue reading →

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The Softer Side of the Justice Department: The Civil Settlement and Deferred Prosecution

Posted on July 9, 2011 by mmjdiary

There is a dearth of criminal cases targeting the executives involved in the 2008 investment banking house collapses and its seeds of destruction planted in the subprime mortgage market. The void has raised questions throughout the hallowed halls of law … Continue reading →

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The Medical Bag Left Behind – The Downfall of Mika Myllyla

Posted on July 8, 2011 by mmjdiary

Mika Myllyla, the Olympic gold medalist in cross-country skiing, who was part of a 2001 doping scandal that felled the Finnish team and its support system, was found dead in his apartment this past week. Mr. Myllyla never did recover … Continue reading →

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Astonishment Over Atlanta Public Schools: “No exceptions. No excuses.” The Seven Signs in Action

Posted on July 8, 2011 by mmjdiary

The Barometer isn’t often taken aback by scandals, but Atlanta has succeeded in offering a real head-turner when it comes to ethical collapse. Lost in the Casey Anthony hoopla, the story is that the Atlanta Public School (APS) system is … Continue reading →

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