Anderson's Business Law and the Legal Environment 20th Edition by David Twomey,Marianne Jennings

Exercise 8

Marv Albert, the longtime NBC sportscaster famous for his "Yes!" commentary, was charged with violations of several Virginia statutes, including criminal assault, battery, and sodomy, for his alleged conduct with a woman in a hotel room. Initially, Albert went to trial on the case and denied that the charges were true. During the trial, another woman testified that Albert had engaged in similar behavior with her. Following plea negotiations, Albert entered a guilty plea the next day. NBC then fired him under a provision in his contract that prohibited employees from making false statements. Albert had assured his superiors at NBC that the charges were baseless. Do you agree with NBC's decision to fire Albert? Was his personal behavior relevant for his job performance? Do you agree that lying to your employer should result in automatic termination? Albert is back as a network commentator. Does his reinstatement mean that moral issues and private conduct are irrelevant in business decisions?