Last month, Jim Duncey, the majority owner and face of Duncey’s Caps, Inc., was involved in a car accident and arrested for DWI. Facing a PR crisis Duncey’s board of directors called an emergency meeting. The board implemented its crisis plan, issued a statement condemning driving while intoxicated, suspended Duncey, ordered him to attend rehabilitation, and made a $100,000 donation to MADD.
While the company survived the initial PR crisis, its bottom line did not. Retail sales during the following quarter were down 20%. One of the company’s major commercial customers also terminated its contract that produced $3 million in revenue annually. To make matters worse, the board’s private investigator discovered that Duncey had previously been arrested for DWI three years earlier while on vacation in another state, but had managed to keep it quiet. Does the company have any legal remedies against Duncey on top of terminating him? Should the company seek those remedies?
Continue Reading The Calm After the PR Storm: Recovering Damages from the Offender
Jim Duncey is more than just the majority owner of Duncey’s Caps, Inc. – he’s the face of the company, appearing on billboards, in television and radio ads, and on the home page of the company’s website. He is one of the most influential and recognizable business leaders in the city. On Saturday night Jim and his wife Diane attend a charity event at the toniest country club in town. With a little “liquid courage” Jim was the high bidder at the night’s live auction, which earned him respect (and envy) from those in attendance. On the way home Jim ran a stop sign and t-boned another vehicle. The driver of the other vehicle suffered serious injuries that would force her to spend several weeks in the hospital. Police investigating the accident gave Jim a field sobriety test, which he failed. Jim ended blowing a .12 BAC and was charged with DWI. The accident, along with Jim’s arrest, was the lead story on the Sunday news.