Category Archives: You might have crossed a few ethical lines if . . .

You may have crossed a few ethical lines if you are eating evidence in Grand Central Station

The three men are accused of using information from one of New York’s big merger law firms. They would trade the information at Grand Central Station and then eat the papers on which the tips of upcoming mergers were written. … Continue reading

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Shana Madoff Swanson — The In-House Counsel and Compliance Director for Bernie Who Allegedly Used $30,000 of Company Funds to Pay Her Interior Decorator

And that is only the beginning of the allegations.  Prosecutors are now focusing on $241,958 in her rent payments made by the Madoff firm.  And $374,860 in personal expenses charged to her corporate American Express card that included clothing, cosmetics, … Continue reading

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Peter Madoff: “Okay, so my wife was paid 100-grand per year and never showed up for work, who knew?”

Peter Madoff, Bernie’s brother, was sentenced to ten years in prison in exchange for a guilty plea to all manner of federal charges including lying to regulators, trying to squirrel away funds after he knew he and the Bernster had been … Continue reading

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MF Global Executives Are Fighting to Get Their Bonuses for 2011

Nice work if you can get it. Drive your company into bankruptcy. Lose $1.6 billion in customer funds. Then demand your bonus for the year in which both of those events occurred. The demand for the bonuses has backfired. Now … Continue reading

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Tampa Area Housing Authority and Overtime for Sex at the Office

You might have crossed a few ethical lines if you fire an employee who reports to city authorities that you are paying employees overtime for having sex with you at the office – sometimes as much as 26 extra hours … Continue reading

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You may have crossed a few ethical lines if you have covered the windows of your classroom so that folks on the outside cannot see that students are cheating on their state exams.

Yes, educators at the George Washington Carver Charter School in Highland Park, Michigan opened exams early, spread the questions around before students took those exams, and offered answers as the students took the exams.  “I think they were afraid for … Continue reading

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“When people frantically begin shredding sensitive documents and deleting computer files and smashing flash drives and chasing garbage trucks at 2 a.m. . . . It is not because they have been operating legitimately.”

U.S. Attorney (Manhattan) Preet Bharara on the activities of two hedge-fund managers who learned that they were under investigation for insider trading.  One texted the other, “I think u just go into office . . . shred as much as … Continue reading

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Embezzling from Nuns

Former New Jersey attorney Gary R. Thompson was indicted on 45 counts related to his alleged stealing from the Cornelian Community Counselors.  The CCC, a group founded by a Roman Catholic nun, offers legal services to the poor.  Mr. Thompson, … Continue reading

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“You might have crossed a few ethical lines if you plan to dole out $100 million in bonuses whilst on the government dole.”

The Barometer supposes that the fear is palpable, that if you withheld $100 million in bonuses from these crackerjack AIG executives that they would hit the road in response to the job offers at their fingertips.

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You might have crossed a few ethical lines if you are a member of the House from New York and claim Maryland residency . . .

Rep. Eliot Engel (D. Bronx) has been elected to the House from the state of New York five times.  During that ten-year span of public service, Mr. Engel and his wife, who have been lifelong residents of the Bronx, listed their primary residence on … Continue reading

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“You might have crossed a few ethical lines if you work in the court system in Luzerne County, PA.”

The Barometer needs a flow chart just to keep track of the characters.  Last week, a former judge in Luzerne County, Pennsylavnia entered a guilty plea to taking part in a kickback scheme for verdicts.  Then a local newspaper filed documents … Continue reading

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You might have crossed a few ethical lines if you dismiss a case in which the defendant is represented by your son’s law firm.

Federal Judge Richard H. Kyle, Minneapolis, failed to disclose that Medtronic, a defendant in a massive product liability action, was represented by the firm in which his son is a partner.  Judge Kyle dismissed the 700 cases five weeks ago, determining … Continue reading

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Madoff Lost His Mittens

When the court freezes your assets,keep your mittens. Bernard Madoff, the current $50-billion-Ponzi-scheme-king, whilst free on $10 million in bail, has been sending off gifts to relatives and friends, including $200 mittens, watches, cuff links,brooches, necklaces, and bracelets.  Total value … Continue reading

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You might have crossed a few ethical lines if you are the Washington Post and are accepting payments from companies for access at dinners to the publisher’s house

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