Industry Liabilities

There are many different types of legal controversies and lawsuits in recent news. Many are pertaining to the entertainment industry as well as my lighting business.  The first legal controversies that could be related to my business is about a capital corporations security lawsuit.  This lawsuit was filed because of an accounting error in the adjustment of company funds.  An audit committee determined that there was “an understatement in funds” and they were intentionally made so that Capital Corporations could receive more money by paying fewer taxes.  These types of lawsuits are quite common and they could definitely happen to any kind of business both on purpose and even intentionally if not careful.  This is a great example of why you should keep records of everything that your business receives as well as why you should never hide or lie about the income that it is bringing in. 

            In the case of the Philips Entertaining Lighting Company there was as sexual harassment charge that was filed by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.    This charge was filed because the EEOC believed that a previous employee was “subjected to a sexually hostile working environment.” This employee was hired in a warehouse as the only female and she was “welcomed by sexually vulgar comments, sexual advances and touches by the warehouse manager as well as other coworkers.” This employee had filed complaints to management but nothing was done to stop the harassing or discipline the harassers.  From this lawsuit settlement Philips Entertaining Lighting Company was fined a total of $30,000. This company is in the same type of business as mine is and a case like this could happen anywhere to any kid of business.  Sexual harassment in the workplace is something that could destroy your working environment as well as give your company a bad reputation that could follow them for a very long time.  Following through the complaints filed should be taken seriously and everyone should feel comfortable in their working environment. 

            The third and last recent law suite that could be related to my industry would be the Utah based LED lighting company CAO group.  This lawsuit was filed because CAO believes that rival LED lighting companies had infringed 3 separate patents that they had previously made themselves.  These rival companies were Nexxus Lighting, Inc., Sharp Electronics Corporation, and Toshiba International Corporation. The brief press released by CAO claims that the patents “protect innovations at the core of LED light source solutions.” This LED lighting company based in Salt Lake City, UT, says it “its an ongoing business protecting its investments in these innovations and will pursue all available remedies in the lawsuit.” Stealing ones patent will most likely cause a lawsuit and could ruin the reputation as well as the entire company if it is proven in court.  It could be a very costly decision if you follow through by using another company’s work.  In my opinion know one should be able to use someone else’s work without written consent and should be punished in some way if convicted.  Always use your own work and be as original as you possibly can.