People v. Canadian Fur Trappers' Corp.
Court of Appeals of New York
161 N.E. 455 (1928)
Relevant factsFree
Canadian Fur Trappers' Corp. (defendant) held a customer's deposited fur coat in storage pending full payment, but resold it to another buyer before the original customer, Stanley, finished paying, and was convicted of second-degree grand larceny after the prosecution suggested it was company practice to resell deposited coats to whoever paid first; the company appealed, arguing insufficient evidence tied the resale practice to any authorization by its own officers.
IssueFree
Whether a corporation in New York may be held criminally liable for a specific-intent crime such as larceny only if its officers authorized or otherwise acquiesced in the criminal activity committed by its employees.