White Collar Crime

 White Collar Crime by Domenick Lazzara

“On April 21, 2012, the New York Times reported that in September 2005, a senior Wal-Mart lawyer received an e-mail from a former executive at the company’s largest foreign subsidiary, Wal-Mart de Mexico, describing how Wal-Mart de Mexico had orchestrated a campaign of bribery to win market dominance.  In a rush to build stores, the company had allegedly paid bribes to obtain permits across the country. Upon information, Wal-Mart dispatched investigators to Mexico City. Within days, the investigators uncovered evidence of widespread bribery, including a paper trail of hundreds of suspected payments in excess of $24 million in total.  In addition, investigators found documents showing that Wal-Mart de Mexico’s top executives knew about the payments and had taken steps to conceal such payments from company headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas. Wal-Mart’s lead investigator summed up his findings, saying “[t]here is reasonable suspicion to believe that Mexican and USA laws have been violated. ” He further recommended that Wal-Mart expand the investigation, advice not heeded by executives. It was not until the New York Times began their own examination that it was uncovered that Wal-Mart, instead of proceeding with an investigation, shut it down altogether. Worse, American and Mexican law enforcement officials were never notified and none of Wal-Mart de Mexico’s executives were disciplined. On the contrary, the person alleged to have spear-headed the bribery campaign and subsequent cover up, Eduardo Castro-Wright, was promoted to vice chairman of Wal-Mart in 2008.”  Read More

Attorney Breakfast Club Dade Chapter April Meeting

Attorney Breakfast Club Dade Chapter Member Appellate Attorney, Elliot Kula and the Attorney Breakfast Club Vice President of Business Development, Don Wilson discuss the benefits of joining and participating in the Attorney Breakfast Club meetings