Product Description
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Abstract
In July 2007 toy maker Mattel came under fire when one of its European retailers found lead paint on some Mattel toys manufactured in China. Mattel stopped operations at the factory that produced the toys, conducted an investigation, and eventually recalled 83 affected products. The case asks students to play the role of the General Counsel for Mattel, determine what questions to ask their client, and draft a press release to communicate to the public about the crisis. The problem fits in the general category of avoiding trouble or distributing losses that have already occurred.
Learning Objectives
- Begin to develop a systematic approach to problem solving when faced with an unresolved issue or new situation.
- Discuss whether lawyers should advise clients as if they were solely interested in taking maximum advantage of their legal rights or if their advice should encompass the full range of the client’s concerns, engaging the client's moral compass in deciding whether it is right to pursue a legally-available objective.
- Learn how to define and represent a client when the client is an entity or organization; identify and appropriately respond to conflicts of interest among an organization’s stakeholders.
- Understand the legal constraints and repercussions of writing public statements on behalf of a publically traded company engaged in a controversial situation.
Subjects Covered
Risk Averseness, Acting in the Shadow of the Law, Conflicts of Interest, SEC Regulations, Public Disclosure, Crisis Management
Setting
Geographic: United States, China, Europe
Industry: Consumer Goods, Toys
Event Year Begin: 2007
Accessibility
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Educator Materials
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Additional Information
Conversation Starters: Case Studies for Curricular Reform
Suffolk Law Launches Problem Solving Workshop
The Problem Solving Workshop: A Video Introduction
Copyright Information
Please note that each purchase of this product entitles the purchaser to one download and use. If you need multiple copies, please purchase the number of copies you need. For more information, see Copying Your Case Study.
