Two poster lads for corporate sleaze and excess, former Tyco CEO Dennis Kozlowski and ex-banker Frank Quattrone, are now on trial. Many have questioned their decision not to do a deal, and observers will be all over the proceedings second guessing the defense and scrutinizing the prosecution’s strategy.
Here’s another question: what’s the meaning of “jury of one’s peers” in a case like this?
Kozlowski, for example, is accused of looting Tyco of some $600 million. That’s 6 million benjamins for those non-tycoon types scoring from the jury box.
Worse yet for the defendant is how he allegedly spent it. Is there any peerage for a guy accused of buying a $6,000 shower curtain and a $15,000 umbrella stand? Should there be?