Read the following cases. For each, state whether the action or situation shows a violation or potential for violation of the AICPA Code of Professional Conduct; if so, explain why, and cite the relevant rule or interpretation.
a. CPA Ron Stout completed a review of the unaudited financial statements of Wolfe Gifts. Arvida Wolfe was very displeased with the report. An argument ensued and she told Stout never to darken her door again. Two days later, she telephoned Stout and demanded that he return (1) Wolfe’s cash disbursement journal, (2) Stout’s documentation schedule of adjusting journal entries, (3) Stout’s inventory analysis documentation, and (4) all other documentation prepared by Stout. Wolfe had not yet paid her bill, so Stout replied that state law gave him a lien on all of the records and he would return them as soon as she paid his fee.
b. CPA O’Dell May teaches a CPA review course at the university. He needs problem and question material for students’ practice, but the CPA examination questions and answers are no longer published. He pays $ 5 to students who take the exam for each question they can “remember” after taking the examination.
c. CPA Kelsey Blitz has been invited to conduct a course in effective tax planning for the City Chamber of Commerce. The chamber’s president said a brochure would be mailed to members giving the name of Blitz’s firm, Blitz’s educational background and degrees held, professional society affiliations, and testimonials from participants in the course held last year comparing Blitz’s excellent performance with other CPAs who have offered competing courses in the city.
d. CPA Reece Philby is a member of the state bar whose practice is a combination of law and accounting and is heavily involved in estate planning engagements. Philby’s letter-head has the following: Member, State Bar of Illinois, and Member, AICPA.
e. The public accounting firm of Burgess & Maclean (B& M) has made a deal with Brit & Company, a firm of management consulting specialists, for mutual business advantage. B& M agreed to recommend Brit to clients who need management consulting services. Brit agreed to recommend B& M to clients who need improvements in their accounting systems. During the year, both firms would keep records of fees obtained by these mutual referrals. At the end of the year, Brit and B& M would settle the net differences based on a referral rate of 5 percent of fees.
f. Jack Robinson and Archie Robertson (both CPAs) are not partners, but they have the same office, the same employees, and a joint bank account and work together on audits. A letterhead they use shows both their names and the description “Members, AICPA.”
g. CPA Lou Dewey retired from the two- person firm of Dewey & Cheatham (D& C). One year later, D& C merged practices with Howe & Company to form a regional firm under the name of Dewey, Cheatham, & Howe Company.