Question

Sleazeco, Inc. employee Harold Hapless died after several weeks of exposure to certain toxic chemical fumes at the Sleazeco plant. The chemicals were in open vats and could not reasonably be avoided by Hapless and other Sleazeco employees. The local prosecutor filed criminal charges against Sleazeco, its president, and its plant manager in connection with Sleazeco's death. The prosecutor alleges that Sleazeco's president and plant manager knew of the dangerous nature of the fumes but neither warned Hapless and other Sleazeco employees nor took other action to lessen the danger. Which of the following is an accurate statement?a. Sleazeco cannot be held criminally liable for Hapless's death because a corporation cannot form a criminal intent.b. The president and the plant manager cannot be held criminally liable for Hapless's death under theories of strict and vicarious liability.c. If Sleazeco can prove that it used due diligence in trying to prevent the president and the plant manager from committing a crime, the corporation will have a defense against criminal liability.d. Sleazeco may be held criminally liable for the acts of the president and the plant manager if they were acting within the scope of their employment and for the benefit of the corporation.

Answer 1

Answer and explanation:

After carefully reading the situation presented in this statement, it is correct to say that the accurate resolution would be that Sleazeco may be held criminally liable for the acts of the president and the plant manager if they were acting within the scope of their employment and for the benefit of the corporation.