Falsifying Expense Receipts: Everybody Does It!

Abstract

In its 2018 global study on occupational fraud, the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners found asset misappropriation the most common category of fraud with expense reimbursement schemes the most frequent and costly form of misappropriation. In this case, Cassandra, a valued junior attorney on track to become a partner at her law firm, is strongly encouraged by a supportive senior attorney to join him in ordering an after-hours meal in clear violation of the firm’s meal expensing policy. While Cassandra recognizes that taking such action would be wrong, she is unclear what to do next. Sometimes the desire to do the right thing is fraught with complexities about the right thing to do. The purpose of the case is for students to examine the competing interests Cassandra faces in relation to the responsibilities she owes to her employer, colleagues, clients, profession, and herself.