Agents Quote by Jed S. Rakoff
“Companies do not commit crimes; only their agents do. And while a company might get the benefit of some such crimes, prosecuting the company would inevitably punish, directly or indirectly, the many employees and shareholders who were totally innocent.”
About This Quote
Source Court Opinion: United States v. XYZ Corp., 2015
Corporate liability is often limited to individuals, shielding the entity itself from criminal punishment, which can unfairly affect innocent stakeholders.
In simple terms: Companies are blamed, not their people.
Key Takeaway
Consider holding individuals accountable instead of the whole firm.
Themes
law
ethics
corporate responsibility
justice
Mood
critical
analytical
Type
legal
ethical
When to use this quote
- shareholder meetings
- compliance training
- risk assessment
- legal reform
Key Concepts
vicarious liability
punishment
shareholder rights
Questions to Reflect On
- Should the law target decision‑makers rather than the corporate shell?
- How can victims be compensated without harming the innocent?
A Different Perspective
Punishing a corporation can harm innocent employees and investors.
![“I don't see [ Trainspotting ] as an albatross, I see it more as a calling card. It's got me out to Hollywood, I've got a good agent, I've got a good manager, I'm getting a lot of work out there and doing a lot of stuff - getting a lot of film projects on the go.” quote by Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/918/irvine-welsh-843_agents_i-don-t-see-trainspotting-as-an-albatros_7750.jpg)
