Posted on 09/28/2005 7:16:06 AM PDT by Rio
Wendy's International announced Tuesday it paid $100,000 in reward money to two tipsters who helped police crack the attempted finger-in-the-chili scam -- half to a woman too scared to let her name be known; half to a man ordered not to talk about it. The woman will remain anonymous because of fear of reprisals. Mike Casey will not. Casey complained to the Mercury News last week that the fast food giant was reneging on its promise to pay the reward. On Tuesday, he said he got the money but was under a gag order. ``Part of the deal on the 50 grand was they won't let me say anything,'' Casey said Tuesday, ``So I really can't talk to you other than to say I got the check. It totally perplexes me.'' The fast food giant owes a great deal to both people. They gave tips vital to clearing the name of the restaurant chain, which claimed the extra-ingredient chili had cost millions of dollars in lost business as repulsed eaters ate elsewhere. Such a gag order was never part of the reward offer. But Wendy's spokesman Denny Lynch said it was imposed later to protect the chain from further bad publicity. The clause prevents Casey or the woman ``from trying to sell their story to a book, news magazine, reality show, whatever,'' Lynch said. ``It was in that context to try to protect the franchisees and move this story behind us.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
Actually, this sort of "no comment" clause in a settlement agreement is fairly common, especially when the case involves a business that deals with the public. The only unusual thing here is that these are tipsters rather than plaintiffs.
But the reasoning behind the agreement is still good. It is a fair exchange for a substantial amount of money. If they feel they can do better selling their story to the news shows, they can forgo the bird in the hand and say whatever they want.
"If they feel they can do better by selling their story to the news shows, they can forgo the bird in the hand and say whatever they want"
Agreed. Money is the root of all evil. What happen to being a good citizen. That was a quick $50,000 for the guy, probably more than he made in one year. That 15 minute of fames and greed seems to go to everybody's head. They go on endless talk shows re-telling the story.
Had they reported incident to police or Wendy's company maybe company would not have suffered as much and he could have gone on every talk show.
I don't think this one tipster understands the nature of a confidentiality agreement. But that's not surprising, because I'm sure that Mrs. Finger and her accomplice didn't hang out with Eagle Scouts or Rhodes Scholars.
Bulls--t. Wendy's owed them nothing. These people had a moral obligation to do what they did. They were not due a reward.
Don't mean to be a nit picker here but the quote you are looking for is "The love of money is the root of all evil. Money is amoral.
Agreed. It was very generous of Wendy's.
If my local Wendy's is any indication, they probably lose a lot more money due to slow, indifferent service than they ever did to the finger in the chili.
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