Essay questions, Bussines Law I.

• Recently, in the State of Connecticut a case was brought by an employee who alleged the employee's right to privacy was violated by the employer when the employer accessed the employee's private e-mail account. Should we have an expectation of privacy when we use a computer at work to access our private (non-employment related) email accounts?
• Dewey, Cheatum & Howe represents the artist formerly known as Two Dollar in a defamation action against The Red Neck Journal (the "Company"), your employer. Outline the steps each party will take from commencing an action in federal court and the steps leading up to and through trial to verdict in this matter.

• The head of the Department of Transportation reviewed a film that demonstrated the effectiveness of air bags in automobiles. He then passed a rule that Ford Motor Company must retrofit for free all its 1985 models as an experiment on the safety of the air bag. Ford refused to do so. The DOT held a hearing and decided to fine Ford $1 million for violating its regulation. A notification of this decision was mailed to Ford. What constitutional issues does this case raise?

• Billy has a dispute with Bump and Tumble Bedspring Company over a bed Billy recently purchased from Bump and Tumble for use in his hotel. Billy needs to decide whether to pursue litigation or employ an alternative dispute resolution mechanism. What advantages are associated most often with using alternative dispute resolution mechanisms? Which choice would be most appropriate in this case?

• Dudley Do-right operates a business that almost always hires skilled workers. The operation does have an opening, however, for someone who does not need any training. Dudley Do-right is thinking about hiring someone from the welfare rolls instead of contacting the local college part-time employment office. Apply one of the tools for analyzing a contemplated action (from Chapter 3 Business Ethics) to this problem.

• Siemens Corporation put their CFO in the CEO position to get a more streamlined company and increase dividends for their shareholders. The CEO announced layoffs of 15,000 employees throughout the global operation with 50% coming from Germany. Apply one of the tools for analyzing a contemplated action to this problem.
• California passed a law prohibiting any transporting of nuclear waste in the state unless the company doing so is a resident or is owned by residents of California. What kind of constitutional issues does this raise?