legal or illegal
Below is an excerpt from a New York Times Article that created hypothetical fact patterns and then purported to give the reader answers to whether or not such behavior would be considered legal or not. Remember the Martha Stewart case? Although she was ultimately acquitted of the insider trading charges, she did serve time for obstruction of Justice. Just what did she do, though, that prompted the Federal charges? Here is an interesting article from the University of New Mexico that explains it: https://danielsethics.mgt.unm.edu/pdf/martha%20stewart%20case.pdf (Links to an external site.)
After familiarizing yourself with what happened there, and what you learned from your text reading, see if you agree with these scenarios from the New York Times article. Choose 3 that you agree or disagree with and discuss why you think the behavior is legal or illegal. Make sure you label each of the 3 questions you chose to answer.
“LEGAL OR ILLEGAL?
- You are a taxi driver who overhears a well-dressed passenger, clearly a corporate bigwig, ebulliently describe how his employer is about to receive approval for a new blockbuster cure for cancer. You tell your broker to buy 1,000 shares of the stock.
Answer: Not illegal
- You are the chauffeur for that same executive—he hired you with the understanding that everything you overhear stays in the car—and he talks of the impending approval.
Answer: Illegal.
- Your broker tells you to sell stock in a company because he just received a call from that company’s chief executive, who instructed him to dump all his holdings. You sell the stock.
Answer: Probably illegal.
- The same broker advises you to sell but does not say why. He says only that he has a strong belief that you should do it.
Answer: Not illegal.
- A friend tells you that he is depressed because his wife has learned that she will probably be laid off next week from her job as a top executive. Her company has discovered deep financial problems, he says, and will disclose them soon. You reassure him, but when he leaves, you call your broker and execute an order to sell short 5,000 shares of the company’s stock.
Answer: Illegal.
- At your country club, you play golf with a new member who talks about a great new product his company is about to introduce. He implies that the stock will rise sharply. The next day, you buy some of the stock.
Answer: Illegal.
- You play golf with that same new member, who talks about the new product but gives no hint that he is associated with the company or where he received the information. You buy.
Answer: Not illegal.
- At a party, you overhear an executive—whom you recognize but do not know—tell another guest that his company’s outlook has taken a turn for the worse that has not been reported. You call your broker and sell your interest in that company.
Answer: Not illegal.
From Stephen Labaton and David Leonhardt, “Whispers Inside, Thunder Outside,†The New York Times, June 30, 2002, Section 3, p 1.”
ONLY CHOOSE 3 TO DISCUSS!
Looking for a similar assignment? Our writers will offer you original work free from plagiarism. We follow the assignment instructions to the letter and always deliver on time. Be assured of a quality paper that will raise your grade. Order now and Get a 15% Discount! Use Coupon Code "Newclient"
