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Unethical Behavior in America.
Many cases in America show us examples of the delicate balance between ethical and unethical decisions that can affect the entire complexion of business. There are many cases and situations in which unethical practices are revealed. Not always are these practices necessarily illegal, but they often are. Employees and former employees of the business often bring up the issues in civil cases involving their termination and company malpractice. .
Wrongful Termination.
This Colorado whistle-blowing case detailed in a 1996 Colorado Supreme Court decision, has ethical similarities to the whistle blowing of Enron vice president Sherron Watkins (Curtin 1). Many cases of termination turn into cases that shed light on a companies wrongdoings and unethical practices. This case is just one of thousands that happen each year. .
Diana Mariani was a state-licensed certified public accountant that sued her employer for wrongful termination when Colorado Blue Cross/Blue Shield fired her in 1991. She was terminated because she pointed out irregular accounting practices to her boss. The Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Mariani could use a professional code of conduct to support her wrongful termination claim and ordered a new trial. .
Mariani claimed Blue Cross/Blue Shield forced her to make a decision between loyality to her employer and loyality to her professional code of conduct, which requires her to report accounting irregularities. .
Mariani alleged Colorado Blue Cross/Blue Shield: .
• Reduced mangement fees and office rent to a subsidiary to make the subsidiary appear profitable to preserve its solvency rating .
• Documented only the benefits of a merger between Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada Blue Cross/Blue Shield in a report to the Colorado Division of Insurance.
• Bought a $ 3.5 million computer for New Mexico Blue Cross/Blue Shield that was recorded as an asset for the New Mexico group .