Carney & Deb, Accountants, perform a variety of tasks for their clients’”financial
statements and tax returns, for example. To accomplish these tasks, Carney & Deb
collects their clients’ personal and financial information. Carney & Deb can store the
personal and financial information of its clients on any electronic device, including a
smartphone, a tablet, a flash drive, a laptop, and a copier. When Carney & Deb
upgrades its storage media, the information is transferred between devices. Does
Carney & Deb have an ethical obligation to its clients with respect to this information?
If so, what are the ethics in the situation?
Answer:
The doctrine of strict liability can be applied to sellers of goods, including
manufacturers, but not distributors.