United States v. Park · US Supreme Court · 1975

Can the CEO be criminally liable?

Short answer: Yes: he had the power to fix it.

The facts. Federal inspectors found rodents in a Baltimore warehouse of a giant grocery chain. The chain's CEO, far away at headquarters, had told subordinates to fix it. He was personally charged.

The ruling. United States v. Park (1975): The Court held a corporate officer with responsibility and authority can be criminally liable for food safety violations, even without personal fault.

John Park was CEO of Acme Markets. The rule is called the responsible corporate officer doctrine, and it still scares executives.

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For fun, not legal advice.