In 2013, Immigration and Customs Enforcement raided 14 7-Eleven stores that subjected about 50 undocumented immigrants to negligent human rights violations. In 2018, ICE conducted a raid of separately owned franchises that resulted in 21 additional arrests. The franchises were held liable. How can tension be resolved between franchises and the parent company? 9 pp. Case #19-01 (2019)

On September 26, 2017, the FBI announced the arrest of 10 men in connection with “fraud and corruption in college basketball.” The announcement shook the intercollegiate athletics world to its core. Three of ten individuals implicated in the investigation were employees or representatives of sportswear manufacturer, Adidas AG. This case delves thoroughly into the FBI’s investigation of the bribery and money laundering that took place over a two-year period and Adidas’s response. This case also offers an overview of the company’s history, highlights the history of endorsements, introduces another key player in the NCAA, and provides a framework for further analysis.
Case #19-10. (16 pp.)

On July 3, 2018, bookseller Barnes & Noble released a statement saying that their CEO, Demos Parneros, was terminated, effective immediately, for “violating the company’s policies.” In this abrupt firing, Barnes & Noble did not specify the policies that were violated, but did mention that it was not related to any disagreement with the company regarding its financial performance. Suspicion quickly grew that Parneros was just the latest executive caught up in a #MeToo moment. 15 pp. Case #19-02 (2019)

The world’s largest sports organization, FIFA, is caught in a corruption scandal as the U.S. Department of Justice leads a criminal investigation that indicts 14 of its top officials from North, Central and South America and the Caribbean on charges of racketeering, wire fraud and money laundering. How can FIFA regain the public trust? Should international organizations be more transparent? (A) Case 15 pp. (B) Case 2 pp. Case #16-06 (2016)

Global Genes, a leading patient advocacy organization supporting the global rare disease community, must plan for the launch and marketing of RAREX, a new patient driven data collection and global data repository initiative. This rare disease moonshot is the first of it’s kind. Its success is contingent upon the collaboration of various stakeholder groups and will require strategic communicative efforts to properly deliver the proposal. 13 pp. Case #19-05 (2019)

On August 29, 2018 Eric Bauman, Chairman of the Democratic Party of California sent out a midnight tweet exposing In-N-Out Burger’s donation of $25,000 to the Republican party and called for a nation-wide boycott. How In-N-Out responds to the viral sensation could affect their reputation in their home state of California and alter their corporate political donation policy. 11 pp. Case #19-06 (2019)

Major League Soccer faces an evolving financial, branding, and safety crisis concerning the limited use of artificial turf surfaces, sparking player complaints and protest. Commissioner Don Garber must respond to the league’s most influential star refusing to play in games on artificial turf, citing increased health and safety risks. 17 pp. Case #19-07 (2019)

On August 24, 2012, a jury in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California found that Samsung mobile devices infringed six Apple patents, awarding Apple $1.05 billion in damages. The lawsuit was a battle of the largest smartphone manufacturer, Samsung, and the world’s largest company, Apple. Samsung must decide what actions they should take in response to the outcome reached by the jurors. Decisions at hand include trial proceedings, public communications, and research and development philosophy changes. 13 pp. Case #12-12 (2012)

Larry Nassar’s conviction of first-degree sexual misconduct with young girls in USA Gymnastics raised important questions about the efforts of the USOC and affiliated organizations to keep their athletes safe. The scope and duration of his abuse brings into question the execution of the International Olympic Committee’s values. 15 pp. (A) Case; 10 pp. (B) Case. Case #18-05 (2018)

Publishers, editors and journalists at The Washington Post find themselves in a life-and-death struggle to defend their work against allegations of “Fake News.” The issues at play include a responsibility for the paper to fairly report the news, as well as the responsibility of the public to critically analyze, but be receptive to, truthfully reported facts. 15 pp. Case #18-06. (2018)