45.9 Ethics

Riverside Bayview Homes, Inc. (Riverside), owned 80 acres of low-lying marshland (wet-lands) near the shores of Lake St. Clair in Macomb County, Michigan. Riverside began to place fill materials on its property as part of its preparations for construction of a housing development. Riverside did not obtain a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers. Upon discovery of Riversides activities, the Corps sued, seeking to enjoin Riverside from discharging a pollutant (fill) onto wetlands.

Questions to answer:

1. Is this property subject to the Corps of Engineers permit system?
2. Has Riverside Bayview Homes acted ethically in this case?

United States v. Riverside Bayview Homes, Inc., 474 U. S. 121, 106 S. Ct. 455, 88 L. Ed. 2d 419, Web 1985 U. S. Lexis 145 ( Supreme Court of the United States)