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« Previous EntriesDon’t promise what you can’t deliver
Friday, February 3rd, 2012Continuing my Friday series on keeping your business out of court, let’s take another story directly from the headlines. Heather Peters drew national attention when she successfully sued Honda in a California small claims court. The car manufacturer had reportedly advertised its Civic Hybrid as delivering 50 mpg. Ms. Peters alleged that, [...]
What’s the big deal about Paula Deen?
Tuesday, January 31st, 2012This may be the post that brings the world down on my head, but I have to wonder why everyone seems to be madly shoving each other aside for the opportunity to vilify Paula Deen. For those of you who’ve been vacationing on Mars for the last week or two, here’s the short version. [...]
Don’t threaten to sue … unless you really mean it!
Friday, January 27th, 2012Continuing my Friday series on keeping your business out of court, let’s focus on a mistake that too many businesspeople make. On the theory that “the best defense is a good offense,” some people make it all too clear to their contractors, suppliers, and consultants that, if a single mistake is made, they’ll take [...]
If people wouldn’t steal, we wouldn’t need Internet piracy laws
Thursday, January 19th, 2012Yesterday’s blackout of Wikipedia and other highly trafficked websites must have put quite a dent in a lot of people’s time online. The blackout was, of course, to protest Congressional proposals to enact tough new laws against online piracy. The entertainment industry, the publishing industry, and other providers of creative content are strongly [...]
Don’t manage impressions
Saturday, January 7th, 2012Continuing my Friday series on keeping your business out of court, I want to touch on a subject that’s been bugging me of late. Recently, I’ve been called upon to deal with a group of professionals who didn’t handle a sensitive situation particularly well. Their behavior offers a lesson that smart businesspeople would [...]
Whatever happened to Jiminy Cricket?
Wednesday, January 4th, 2012Friends know that the oldest decoration in my office is a little ceramic figurine of Jiminy Cricket, Pinnochio’s “conscience” in the classic Disney film of the same name. I bought the figurine shortly after graduating from law school, and keep in where it’s never far from my sight. Why? Because I believe [...]
Note to First Mortgage - don’t be a Grinch!
Wednesday, December 21st, 2011Lesliane Bouchard has her share of problems. According to her daughter, Kristiane Chappell, Ms. Bouchard is disabled and completely bedridden due to a painful spinal injury. And if that wasn’t bad enough, it seems that Ms. Bouchard and her family may not have a very merry Christmas this year. Her mortgage company, [...]
Why would anyone market to madmen?
Thursday, December 15th, 2011The November 28th issue of Newsweek featured the story of John Matthews, the FBI mole who spent almost a decade infiltrating right-wing terrorist organizations in the United States. The story offered a fascinating description of how Matthews repeatedly risked his life supporting the FBI’s efforts to prevent home-grown terrorist attacks. It also contained [...]
Johnson & Johnson’s latest apology rocks - literally!
Thursday, December 8th, 2011Johnson & Johnson has long enjoyed an excellent reputation when it comes to public apologies. During the Tylenol tampering incident in the 1970s, J&J set the gold standard when it recalled millions of bottles of Tylenol even though there was no evidence that anyone at the company was responsible for contaiminating the product or [...]
For the sake of future generations, it’s time to address the wealth gap!
Monday, November 7th, 2011The Associated Press reported today that the wealth gap in the United States between the young and the old is the widest it’s ever been in recorded history. Thanks to the continued economic downturn, young people are buried under increasing housing and college debt even as the high unemployment rate deprives them of [...]
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