Coca Cola's Dilemma: Company Suing its Former General Counsel

Coca Cola (KO) has a dilemma. Former General Counsel W. Thomas Haines is facing serious legal action by Coke according to the Fulton County Daily Report.

In 2001 the man was reorganized out of his job. He took up a position as Executive Director of the bottlers' association. The bottlers are now suing Coke over the right to distribute Powerade to Walmart (WMT). Coke wants to sell direct for the obvious profit reasons.

When Mr. Haines was reorganized out of Coke, he received the blessing of Coke in writing to take up the post. Now Coke is preparing to sue and is claiming bad ethics. While all is fair in love and war, could Coke not see this kind of problem in advance?

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