While little known to most of us who aren’t attorneys, the “Yates Memo”, issued by the Department of Justice last September, promises to ensure culpable individuals are held for responsible corporate environmental and other crimes in criminal and/or civil court.
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| Source: Sally Yates speech at NYU School of Law (linked below) |
Questions I am asking myself:
Could this mean that corporate executives will be less likely to allow environmental or workplace safety violations?
Might community groups get positive action by publicly putting those executives on notice of violations of environmental law?
Thoughts and comments to this blog post from attorneys would be appreciated!
To learn more about the Yates memo and its ramifications for environmental justice, consider spending $50 to join the seminar at the Environmental Law Institute in Washington, D.C., or $20 to attend by teleconference.
The main speaker is Kris Dighe, Senior Counsel for the U.S. Department of Justice Environmental Crimes Section.
For more information:
The Departments of Justice and Labor Announce Expansion of Worker Endangerment Initiative to Address Environmental and Worker Safety Violations, Department of Justice Press Release
Deputy Attorney General Sally Quillian Yates Delivers Remarks at New York University School of Law Announcing New Policy on Individual Liability in Matters of Corporate Wrongdoing, Department of Justice
The Yates Memo: Individual Accountability for Corporate Wrongdoing, Department of Justice
The Yates Memo: It Could Get Personal, Law.com (Paid or complimentary subscription)
ARE EXECUTIVES ABOUT TO GET A SEVERE PAPER CUT FROM DOJ YATES MEMO? CASE STUDY JOHNSON & JOHNSON ETHICON ACCLARENT, Melayna Lokosky
Executives Beware: DOJ’s New Yates Memo Signals Focus on Prosecuting Individuals, BDLaw
New DOJ Guidance Puts Emphasis on Identifying Culpable Individuals in Corporate Internal Investigations: Environmental Enforcement Implications, Sidley