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Archive for July, 2009
« Previous EntriesTo stay out of court, get it in writing
Friday, July 31st, 2009Continuing my Friday series on keeping your business out of court, let’s take a quick look at something professionals and service providers may initially resist: using contracts and engagement letters. For some reason, some people are very reluctant to ask their clients and customers to enter into a formal contract, preferring to keep things [...]
Professor Gates certainly deserves an apology now!
Thursday, July 30th, 2009AOL News reported earlier today that a second Boston police officer, Justin Barrett, has gotten himself embroiled in the controversy surrounding Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr.’s recent, controversial arrest by Police Sgt. James Crowley. According to AOL, Barrett sent a mass e-mail to some of his fellow National Guard members and the Boston [...]
London economists apologized to the Queen
Tuesday, July 28th, 2009The Observer newspaper reported over the weekend that a group of prominent British economists recently apologized for failing to predict the recession in a letter to Queen Elizabeth II. Apparently, the queen visited the London School of Economics back in November and asked the question that’s been on just about everbody’s mind concerning the [...]
Please, Sergeant Crowley, apologize to Professor Gates!
Friday, July 24th, 2009Today’s MSNBC.com headline says it all: “Gates’ case dropped, blame debate goes on.” By now, everyone knows that the Cambridge, Massachusetts police arrested renowned black scholar and Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. for disorderly conduct earlier this week. Reportedly, the police arrived at Gates’ house when a neighbor called to report a [...]
Don’t ask your employees to work for free
Friday, July 24th, 2009Continuing my Friday series on tips to keep your business out of court, let’s talk about a troubling practice that’s threatening to become a trend. Earlier this week, I appeared on Fox Radio to talk about employers who are asking employees to work for free. The most noted example is British Airways, which [...]
To learn more about the MBA Oath, look for me on The Street!
Thursday, July 23rd, 2009Starting today, readers who enjoy this blog can also find me featured in the opinion section of TheStreet.com, a leading financial media company whose network of Web sites serves as the premier online destination for all areas where money and life intersect. I’ll be joining Vince Crew, Brad Hall, and Bob Prosen in a [...]
Note to Chris Brown: don’t blame your lawyer
Tuesday, July 21st, 2009Chris Brown’s sudden apology on YouTube for beating up his former girlfriend, Rihanna, raises a host of questions. Brown hospitalized Rihanna on February 8th, almost six months ago. So why did it take him so long to apologize? Here’s what Brown had to say: “Since February, my attorney has advised me not [...]
To stay out of court, don’t make the same mistake twice!
Tuesday, July 21st, 2009The South Florida Sun Sentinel reported yesterday that a lawsuit has been filed against dentist Wesley Meyers by the relatives of one of his patients, Charles K. Gaal, Jr. According to the Sentinel, in October of 2006 Dr. Meyers accidentally dropped an “implant screwdriver tool” down Mr. Gaal’s throat. Dr. Meyers’ mistake [...]
Farewell to the Most Trusted Man in America
Saturday, July 18th, 2009We lost a legend yesterday when retired anchorman Walter Cronkite passed away at the age of 92. For those of us who grew up with Cronkite, it seemed as though even the worst news wasn’t so bad when delivered by that calm, rational voice. It’s no wonder that, when someone dubbed him “Uncle [...]
Put a fair price on your services
Friday, July 17th, 2009Continuing my Friday series on ethical tips to keep your business out of court, let’s turn to a pitfall that professionals like attorneys, accountants and actuaries sometimes stumble over. It’s tough to get new clients these days, and professionals frequently cut their hourly or project fees in order to be more competitive. Sometimes, [...]
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