Re: [dvd-discuss] Dmitry Indictment Doc

[Jeme A Brelin <jeme(at)brelin.net>]

On Wed, 29 Aug 2001, Chris Moseng wrote:
> What does it mean to indict a corporation on a criminal charge? Is
> this a rare or common occurrence?

Corporations have been found guilty of criminal charges in the past.  It's
not exceptionally rare or common (though it probably should be more common
than it is).

Since we can't put a corporation in prison, they almost always get a fine.

When GM was found guilty of a laundry list of conspiracy and other charges
in the 1950s for buying and destroying the public transit system in
Chicago and other US cities, the judge determined that since the damage
was done, there's no use throwing the book at them... GM was fined $5000.

A US corporate charter hasn't been revoked in AGES... but that is probably
the best punishment for corporate crime.

> Does this mean we'll start indicting corporations for murder? Who do
> we put in prison, the board of directors or the shareholders?

I've always advocated that CEOs (being the ones who are responsible for
any EXECUTION of criminal acts) should get at least 1/2 the penalty
imposed upon the individuals who carried out the act, the board of
directors should be taken in on conspiracy charges, and the corporate
charters should be revoked.

I'll be very glad when somebody uses the RICO statutes to take down
someone like GE or Union Carbide as a clear example of an organized crime
ring.

J.
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     Jeme A Brelin
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