Ken Lay's conviction thrown out

[Paranoid Pessimist]

Just saw it on the news -- a judge overturned Ken Lay's conviction. They say this will block efforts to try to recover the money stolen from employees and pensions. What kind of "message" does this send to the rest of the white collar crooks? Business as usual, consequences be damned. More golden parachutes, more stock option sweetheart deals.

Where will it all end? Sometimes I get fed up and feel as if ecological catastrophe caused by climate change can't come fast enough, but I know that the rich will be able to buy their way out of harms way, at least for awhile and only the regular folks will suffer at first, so I hope it all doesn't come crashing down soon. If it could be selective and get only the self-righteous greedheads, that would be wonderful. But things don't work that way.

[hippiechick]

1. ... and now he can make a miraculous "recovery" ...

... from his "death" and lo! he's a free man !!! :eyes:

[Kagemusha]

2. The law's the law. Lay's lawyers are permitted to do this

I remind that Ken Lay was convicted but died before sentencing. It's a loophole. The "message" is bleeping irrelevant. The law is written this way and applies to all Americans in that particular situation equally without regard to wealth.

[splat]

3. What happens if there's a miraculous resurrection?

Separation of church and state would be difficult to maintain if they were simultaneously building a religion around him.

What legal issues!

[Exiled in America]

4. LOL "without reguard to wealth" - yeah right

I'm so sure that a poor black woman would enjoy the same experience in the justice system - alive or dead - as a rich white billionaire. :eyes:

[acmejack]

5. She couldn't have afforded the filing fees.

Let alone the lawyer.

[Kagemusha]

6. The rights are the same, the experience varies.

Welcome to America.

My point is that this is legal. An entirely legal motion being approved by a judge because it is legal, is not "sending a message".

[Exiled in America]

7. "rights" don't mean much when the experience varies.

Not really a "right" - its more of a "hey maybe if you're lucky" :)

[onenote]

8. yep. Hey maybe if you're lucky you'll die before you can appeal

[Kagemusha]

9. I don't get it. This is such a thin "victory" that it's meaningless

Yeah so the government can't rip the money away from the estate before people who are suing in civil court who lost their savings can argue they deserve a share. SO WHAT. Lay will never serve a day in prison. Dead people get a free pass on jail time.

I guess you're saying that the message is that rich people can get off if they die before sentencing. ... Maybe so, and your point is they get off easy? I don't agree, but this seems like a stupid technicality that the country would be better without. Never argued otherwise. Just I have a hard time seeing "messages" when the law is properly obeyed, unlike Lay's own crimes.

[Exiled in America]

10. I don't care about anything other than "without regard to wealth."

I have no interest in the thread, or the topic beyond a passing one. I don't have an opinion on lay or anything to do with the court decision, other than to point on that in this country, there is NOTHING that occurs "without regard to wealth."

[Kagemusha]

11. Uh.. fine.

Oookay...

[Exiled in America]

12. I know its ok

It's not necessary for you to point it out. :)